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Missouri Senate creates bill to end opportunistic COVID-19 lawsuits

Legislation under Senate Bill 51 is receiving a push from GOP lawmakers, the bill designed to protect Missouri employers from opportunistic COVID-19 lawsuits. As the number of lawsuits grow, employers and businesses reluctant to open are seeking increased protection.

Since March, more than 1,000 COVID-19 lawsuits have been filed against employers across the nation, according to the Missouri Department of Commerce and Industry.

In response, many states — including all but one of Missouri’s neighboring states — have enacted some form of protection against these lawsuits.

However, Missouri businesses remain exposed to opportunistic COVID-19 litigation and mounting wariness from employers across the state reluctant to reopen has brought on more support for new law regarding the issue.

The legislation in the Senate, Senate Bill 51, is sponsored by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville, Mo. 

“Passage of this bill is essential to protect Missouri employers from opportunistic COVID-19 lawsuits. Today, Missouri employers are extremely vulnerable to lawsuits alleging someone was exposed to COVID-19 on their premises,” Daniel P. Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said. “The threat of COVID-19 litigation looms over every employer in Missouri and hurts our state’s ability to recover from the pandemic.”