Area state legislator files bill to curtail lawsuit abuse

An insurance lobbying organization is calling a new legislative proposal from a Lakewood Ranch state representative a “monumental” attempt to “tackle lawsuit abuse” in the industry. 

The bill, HB 837, was filed in the Florida House on Feb. 15 by House Judiciary Chair Tommy Gregory, R-Lakewood Ranch, and Tom Fabricrio, R-Miami Lakes. The proposed bill also comes a day after Gov. Ron DeSantis; Sen. President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples; and House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, announced they will tackle challenges in the litigation environment this legislative session.

“This tort reform package is the most consequential in decades,” Personal Insurance Federation of Florida President and CEO Michael Carlson says in a statement. “It addresses long-standing weaknesses in Florida’s judicial system and balances the interests of plaintiffs and defendants. This shows a bold and unified effort between our state’s branches of government to create a fairer system that will protect consumers and drive out abusive litigation filed by attorneys only for profit.”