51 by 51

Tort Reform

An important part of a good business climate is the ability for businesses to resolve legal disputes in a fair manner. A fair civil justice system is one that avoids frivolous lawsuits and eliminates unnecessary or overly burdensome costs in the legal system.

This year, the House passed legislation that will bring positive changes to Virginia’s system for civil justice. The first allows for a motion for summary judgment in a business dispute to be supported by deposition testimony and affidavits. This change will allow for the faster resolution of cases that do not need to go to trial, particularly frivolous cases. The second will avoid unnecessary depositions of corporate executives when a corporate representative could provide suitable testimony. 

For these reasons, tort reform is another of the 51 accomplishments by the 51 members of the Republican-led House of Delegates.