Political Donations From Nursing Homes Surpass $41K in Arkansas

Tort Reform,

Data from the Secretary of State’s campaign finance website shows that an organization representing the nursing home industry in Arkansas has made more than $41,000 in campaign contributions this year.

The Arkansas Health Care Association — which receives monthly dues from nursing homes in the state — is the state’s largest organization of long-term care providers. In the past, the organization has supported “tort reform” measures limiting the amount of money judges and juries can award in lawsuits when a person is injured or killed due to someone else’s negligence.

So far this year, the Arkansas Health Care Association’s political action committee has provided $41,634.60 in support to nearly two dozen candidates and political committees in Arkansas.

Family Council has never opposed responsible lawsuit reforms, but we have written repeatedly about the unintended consequences of the kinds of measures the nursing home industry has promoted in Arkansas.

For example, in 2017 lawmakers proposed an amendment capping noneconomic and punitive damages in personal-injury lawsuits.

Under that proposal, noneconomic damages could have been capped at $500,000 for injury or death, and punitive damages would have been limited to three times the noneconomic damages. That may sound like a lot of money to some people, but it’s not much compensation for the loss of a human life.

The measure also let lawmakers restrict evidence that could be used in personal-injury lawsuits.

Similar measures have been proposed since then.

As we and others have said over the years, restricting lawsuits makes it difficult or impossible to hold bad actors accountable if a nursing home resident is injured or killed because the nursing home was negligent or didn’t properly care for her. Placing arbitrary limits on the amount of money judges and juries can award to victims of negligence effectively puts a price tag on human life.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Arkansas Senate Narrowly Passes Bad Bill Limiting What Injury Victims Can Receive in Damages

Legislation,

On Thursday the Arkansas Senate narrowly passed H.B. 1204, a measure limiting what people can receive in damages when they are injured through no fault of their own.

Right now, when innocent people are injured because of someone else’s negligence or misconduct, they can go to court to make the guilty party pay for their injuries.

The person or business who caused the injury cannot use the injured person’s insurance to reduce the damages they owe.

Courts can review evidence and award appropriate damages based on the facts of the case.

This ensures injured people get fair compensation for harm that others do to them.

H.B. 1204 would limit what innocent people can recover in damages when someone injures them through no fault of their own.

Under H.B. 1204, the wrongdoer could use the victim’s insurance to reduce what they have to pay. In other words, the wrongdoer would get a discount at the expense of the victim.

You can read more about why Family Council opposes this bill here.

The Arkansas House of Representatives passed H.B. 1204 last week. On Thursday it received 18 votes in the Arkansas Senate — which is the minimum a bill requires in order to pass.

H.B. 1204 now goes to Governor Sanders to be signed into law.

Below is a breakdown of how each senator voted on H.B. 1204.

The Following Senators Voted FOR H.B. 1204

  • J. Boyd
  • Crowell
  • B. Davis
  • Dees
  • J. Dismang
  • J. Dotson
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • Gilmore
  • K. Hammer
  • Hester
  • Hill
  • Irvin
  • Blake Johnson
  • M. McKee
  • J. Petty
  • Stone
  • D. Wallace

The Following Senators Voted AGAINST H.B. 1204

  • J. Bryant
  • Caldwell
  • A. Clark
  • S. Flowers
  • Hickey
  • Mark Johnson
  • B. King
  • G. Leding
  • F. Love
  • R. Murdock
  • J. Payton
  • C. Penzo
  • Rice
  • J. Scott
  • G. Stubblefield
  • D. Sullivan
  • C. Tucker

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Senate Committee Passes Bad Bill Limiting What Injury Victims Can Receive in Damages

Legislation,

On Wednesday the Senate Judiciary Committee passed H.B. 1204, a measure limiting what people can receive in damages when they are injured through no fault of their own.

Right now, when innocent people are injured because of someone else’s negligence or misconduct, they can go to court to make the guilty party pay for their injuries.

The person or business who caused the injury cannot use the injured person’s insurance to reduce the damages they owe.

Courts can review evidence and award appropriate damages based on the facts of the case.

This ensures injured people get fair compensation for harm that others do to them.

H.B. 1204 would limit what innocent people can recover in damages when someone injures them through no fault of their own.

Under H.B. 1204, the wrongdoer could use the victim’s insurance to reduce what they have to pay. In other words, the wrongdoer would get a discount at the expense of the victim.

You can read more about why Family Council opposes this bill here.

H.B. 1204 passed the Arkansas House of Representatives last week. It now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for a vote.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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