April 23, 2020

WG, Coalition Urge Calif. Governor Newsom to Protect Businesses from Lawsuits

Last Friday, a coalition of nearly 40 business groups sent a letter to Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to protect businesses providing critical services from lawsuits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In partnership with the Civil Justice Association of California, the coalition asked the governor to expand the Emergency Services Act, which protects private entities from civil liability during times of crisis, to include all industry sectors that are providing “critical goods, services and facilities” during the pandemic.

“California businesses are in survival mode, yet they have stepped up in amazing and heroic ways to respond to the crisis,” the letter said. “They should not be punished with class actions and private rights of action that attempt to capitalize on this crisis. Our businesses and the economy cannot sustain further damage.”

The business groups want Newsom to issue an executive order to clarify and expand current immunity provisions to apply to all private entities providing critical services during the pandemic, according to the letter.

The coalition represents organizations from the agriculture, hospitality, health care, transportation, restaurant, pharmaceutical and other industries.

Click here to access the full letter.