From Michael Peltier from the News Service of Florida: Automakers would be granted more protection from lawsuit losses in crash cases under a measure that got its first committee hearing Tuesday in a battle pitting business groups and the Republican-led Legislature against trial attorneys.
By a 5-1 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure (SB 142) that would reverse a 2001 Florida Supreme Court ruling surrounding what evidence can be entered into trial in automobile product defect cases. Brought at the behest of the Ford Motor Co., the bill would allow automakers to admit additional evidence including driver error in cases of enhanced injury caused by design flaws and product defects.
Backers say the measure, sponsored by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples , would allow the jury to get