Palmetto State News

South Carolina's small business community is urging legislative action on a key tort reform measure. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) State Director, Ben Homeyer, expressed the concerns of local entrepreneurs to the Senate Judiciary Committee. They are calling for the advancement of bill S.244 to the full Senate.

"S.244 is one of NFIB’s top legislative priorities," Homeyer stated. "Our small business members overwhelmingly support the bill because they simply can’t afford to defend themselves from frivolous claims brought by overzealous trial attorneys."

Homeyer emphasized that while there is recognition of individuals' rights to seek compensation if wronged, many lawsuits exploit the legal system. "You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistake just because their lawyer thinks you might have deeper pockets," he noted.

The proposed legislation aims to address these issues by ensuring that defendants are liable only for their fair share of damages. "S.244 is commonsense legislation that would help reduce frivolous and overreaching claims," Homeyer explained.

Acknowledging those who have supported the measure, Homeyer added, "Our members want to thank Sen. Shane Massey and members of the Judiciary Subcommittee for their support and work to bring S.244 to the full committee." He further expressed hope that the committee would approve the bill, allowing a vote in the full Senate on this significant issue affecting small businesses.