Wisconsin Farm Organization Urges State Lawmakers to Approve Bill Protecting Businesses From COVID Lawsuits
Friday, October 2nd, 2020 -- 10:24 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -A Wisconsin farm organization is urging state lawmakers to take up a bill that would protect businesses and others from predatory lawsuits over outbreaks of the coronavirus.Leaders of the Dairy Business Association say the measure would create a liability exemption for individuals as well as entities like businesses and schools if they follow public health orders and take reasonable precautions to protect the public. DBA Board President Tom Crave said the threat of lawsuits stemming from a COVID-19 outbreak is a concern for Wisconsin's dairy farmers and related businesses. He says like other business sectors in the state, the dairy community has faced significant challenges due to the pandemic. Specifically, the bill creates a liability exemption relating to COVID-19 for owners, lessees, occupants, or other individuals or entities in control of a premises who invite or permit another person onto the premises.
In addition, an owner, lessee, or occupant or other individual or entity in control of the premises is immune from liability for an injury of a person who is exposed to COVID-19 on the property, except where the owner, lessee, or occupant knowingly violates an emergency public health order or engages in reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct. The policy is being sponsored by Senator Chris Kapenga of Delafield and Reps. Mark Born from Beaver Dam and Dan Knodl of Germantown.
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