COLUMBUS State senate tries again to pass tort reform

The Ohio Supreme Court found two earlier attempts unconstitutional.
STAFF/WIRE REPORT
COLUMBUS -- The state Senate has passed another attempt to limit what people can collect in certain types of damages that judges or juries award in lawsuits.
It's the third time in 15 years that lawmakers have tried to impose limits on lawsuit awards. Two previous attempts were overturned by the Ohio Supreme Court, which found them unconstitutional.
The 19-13 vote came mostly along party lines, with Republican Sens. Lou Blessing of Cincinnati and Jeff Jacobson of suburban Dayton joining minority Democrats in opposing the bill.
Sen. Marc Dann, a Trumbull County Democrat and attorney who voted no, saw his amendments shot down, including one that would have created exceptions from caps for non-economic damages.
"With the passage of this bill, we are punishing people who are the most injured; the most harmed," said Dann.
Sens. Robert F. Hagan, a Youngstown Democrat, and Gregory L. DiDonato, a Dennison Democrat, also voted no.
House must vote
It now goes to the House.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Steve Stivers of Columbus, would cap at $1 million the award a victim of a defective product or unsafe business could receive for pain and suffering. It would limit damages meant to punish companies to $100,000 or the cost of lost wages and medical expenses, whichever is greater.
The bill also would make it harder to file lawsuits over exposure to asbestos.