In 1982, motorcyclist Barry Sheene racing at the British Grand Prix ran into an existing accident at 160 mph Sheene claimed warning flags were not put up. Sheene’s avoidable crash left him with massive injuries and ultimately ended his racing career.
I decided there and then to sue the bastards.
Barry Sheene
It is far preferable to take action to avoid injury and suffering before it happens. Reasonable people do so. Much of the suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic is and has been preventable. Reasonable people undertake mitigation actions to protect themselves and others. Once an avoidable injury occurs, there is nothing left but to take legal action.
Republican legislators all over the country are scrambling to prevent lawsuits against those who failed to protect the public during the pandemic.
For example: In Louisiana, Republican State Senator Mark Abraham introduced SB435 to
(Provide) relative to certain immunity from civil liability during state of emergencies.
In Florida, Republican State Senator Jeff Brandes introduced FLS72 to limit civil liability relating to the pandemic.
In Indiana, Republican State Representative John Young introduced INH1268, which
Provides that a person or the person’s agent who conducts business in Indiana is not liable in a civil action claiming an injury from exposure or potential exposure to COVID-19 if the act or omission alleged to violate a duty of care of the person or agent was committed or omitted in compliance with or was consistent with any of the following applicable at the time of the alleged exposure…
Federal officials have already taken action to limit liability as best they can. Last year, previous Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed to shield private sector companies’ liability from pandemic-related lawsuits.
These acts would seem to allow civil liability only to those whose actions or omissions constitute the grossest negligence or willful/ wanton misconduct. It is important to keep in mind that public and private endeavors do not make decisions. People within those endeavors make decisions. Individuals must be held accountable for those decisions. Lawsuits that challenge vaccine and mask mitigation efforts are in the news now. Some are already being dismissed. For those who have suffered an infection from avoidable exposure to the virus resulting from a lack of mitigation efforts by employers, businesses, or reckless individuals, the only advice left to give is… sue the bastards.
Thanks and a tip of the hat to DonkeyHotey for the image. See more of DonkeyHotey’s art at https://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/
Sources
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2003/march/barry-sheene-an-amazing-life/
https://www.quotetab.com/quotes/by-barry-sheene
https://www.bricker.com/industries-practices/insurance/insights-resources/resource/covid-19-business-reopening-liability-issues-1148
