For Immediate Release:
April 8, 2004
Committee Co-Chairpersons Outline
Plan for Tort Reform Hearings
Senator Mike
Morgan and Representative Jari
Askins announced a schedule Wednesday of four issue-oriented
hearings on tort reform.
Morgan, D-Stillwater, and Askins, D-Duncan, are co-chairs
of a special 23-member joint House-Senate committee that
will examine the state’s civil justice system. The
co-chairpersons outlined the process the committee will
follow in the hearings during Thursday’s meeting.
“We intend these hearings to be extensive and probing.
The issues involved in tort reform deserve special scrutiny
and it’s my intention for the committee to give them
the attention that they deserve. This is an important job
and we are serious about getting it done,” Morgan
said.
“The members of the committee will approach this issue
with the same resolve used to move it to this point in the
process,” Askins said. “We will explore all
sides of the issues and at the end of the process we will
have a comprehensive proposal.”
Beginning with an April 15 hearing in the Senate Chamber
on “Caps on Non-economic Damages and Product Liability,”
the committee will allow opponents and proponents 45 minutes
each to present witnesses to the committee. Committee members
will also be given 45 minutes to question witnesses from
each side. Morgan said each of the meetings is expected
to last approximately three hours.
The three subsequent hearings, which will be held either
in the Senate or House Chambers, are set for April 22 on
“Medical Malpractice and Insurance Reform;”
April 29 on “Class Action Lawsuit Reform;” and
May 6 on “Civil Justice Reform and Frivolous Lawsuits.”
Morgan and Askins said that its possible further hearings
and meetings could be scheduled.
For
more information contact:
Senate
Communications Office - (405) 521-5774
