Kansas Chamber Asks Federal Delegation to Support COVID-19 Liability Protections

The Kansas Chamber sent letters to the members of the Kansas federal delegations Monday, asking them to support the state's businesses and workers by passing targeted, commonsense reforms to protect against abuses of the legal system that would punish businesses who are working tirelessly to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Kansas businesses are committed to reopening, and to safely bringing back their employees and serving their customers so our communities have confidence in our state's reopening," said Chamber President and CEO Alan Cobb. "However, those businesses who carefully adhere to government guidelines and regulations for the safety of their employees, vendors and customers should not be subjected to the threat of frivolous lawsuits."

In the letter, Cobb pointed out how many Kansas manufacturers pivoted their production lines to help provide the products and supplies necessary to serve the public amid a cloud of unclear and shifting rules and requirements placed on businesses.

"Companies that have acted in good faith to protect employees and follow available guidelines should not be exposed to costly legal fees for trying to do the right thing," wrote Cobb. "Conversely, providing businesses with targeted and limited liability protections is not the same thing as shielding companies from liability for bad acts. We do not seek any reforms that would protect businesses that operate in reckless or intentional disregard of available guidance on reducing the spread of COVID-19."

Cobb said the Chamber also will advocate for similar protections at the state level when the Kansas Legislature returns to Topeka on May 21st to wrap-up the 2020 legislative session.