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Member, Beacon International Group, Ltd.
HARRISBURG, Pa.—Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday signed into a law the so-called Fair Share Act, which limits the financial responsibility of defendants in multidefendant civil suits to only each defendant’s share of a judgment under most circumstances.
Gov. Corbett, a Republican, said the measure, S.B. 113, “is critical to improving the state’s legal climate, which has direct bearing on the economic climate. It affects the cost of goods and services. It affects the cost and availability of health care. It will encourage companies to move here, grow here and stay here.’’
Among other circumstances, the limits do not apply when a defendant has been found liable for at least 60% of the total liability apportioned to all parties, or in cases of intentional tort or misrepresentation.
Pennsylvania joins Texas and Oklahoma as being among states that have enacted major tort reform this year.