West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
Compromise Venue Bill Good for West Virginia
Charleston, W.Va. - The West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association today commended the West Virginia Legislature for passing HB 2956, a bill that would limit the number of out-of-state plaintiffs who could file lawsuits in West Virginia courts. The bill was passed unanimously by both houses. It gives preference to West Virginia citizens and businesses who file suits in state courts, while asking the presiding judges to determine if there is a better jurisdiction for out-of-state plaintiffs who file here. The bill is a compromise that was negotiated by the WVTLA, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and other business interests.
"Businesses were very concerned about the number of out-of-state lawsuits filed in our state courts. It was important for us to find a good solution that would limit out-of-state access to our courts, but not one that would make it harder for state residents and businesses to hold wrongdoers accountable. Limiting these out-of-state suits should never mean locking the courthouse doors for the citizens who live and own businesses here. This bill accomplishes that," said Jeffrey T. Jones, president of the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
"I'm very proud that we were able to work with the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, other business interests, Speaker Rick Thompson, Del. Carrie Webster and Sen. Jeff Kessler to put together a good bill that provides real civil justice reform and is in the best interests of our entire state."
The U. S. Chamber of Commerce and the out-of-state corporations it represents are opposed to the legislation, however, because they believe that it doesn't restrict West Virginians' access to West Virginia courts.
"What is ridiculous is that the U. S. Chamber of Commerce is trying to kill a civil justice reform bill. The truth is that the U. S. Chamber would rather attack our state and call it a `judicial hellhole' than back the real solution that we put together. If they backed this, it would mean that they could no longer claim that West Virginia was a judicial haven for anyone in the country wanting to file a lawsuit. These billion-dollar corporate interests don't care about making West Virginia's courts better. The only thing that matters to them is increasing their corporate profits at any cost-even at the expense of West Virginia citizens and businesses," said Jones.
"The West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association remains committed to strengthening our state's civil justice system and finding opportunities to make it better. However, those options should never include destroying the important laws that allow West Virginia workers, consumers and businesses to hold billion-dollar corporations accountable when they are harmed. Total corporate immunity must never come at the expense of West Virginia families and businesses."
