Mo. Comp, Tort Reform Bills Land on Gov. Blunt’s Desk

The Republican-led Missouri General Assembly has sent workers’ compensation and tort reform bills to Gov. Matt Blunt, who is expected to sign them.

The comp reform bill puts a raft of limitations on when workers can receive compensation. Senate Bill 1 redefines a compensable injury as one where work was the prevailing factor, as opposed to merely occurring at work. If an injured worker is found to have been partly responsible for the accident due to drug use, intoxication or failure to follow safety rules, then compensation would be reduced. In addition, in cases where the cause of the injury is unknown workers would no longer be eligible for compensation.

The tort reform legislation, House Bill 393, seeks to limit venue-shopping, make juries find a defendant at least 51 percent responsible before applying joint-and-several liability, and cap punitive damages at $500,000 or five times the actual damages — whichever is higher.

Blunt, also a Republican, has voiced support the measures, which also have been buoyed by Missouri business and insurance interests.