Tort reforn hearing set in Graniteville

By J.C. LEXOW Staff writer

A public hearing on tort reform sponsored earlier this week by the South Carolina House Democratic Caucus will be reprised on the road next Monday in Graniteville.

The hearing held Feb. 1 in Columbia examined rule change proposals regarding civil court actions.

Rep. Doug Jennings, D-Marlboro/Chesterfield, chair of the House Tort Reform Study Panel, said it was important to understand before voting on the issue how particular details would affect victims of tragedies like the recent train wreck and deadly chemical release in Graniteville.

"If a bill had been passed last year many of those people's rights would have been very detrimentally affected," Jennings said.

He stressed that no tort reform bills proposed so far have a retroactive provision so it would not impact cases arising out of the Graniteville incident. But the rights of future victims should be protected.

"The point is, this is not the last tragedy," Jennings said.

Several proposals to reform tort laws are under consideration in both houses of the state legislature. The issue is supported by Gov. Mark Sanford, who has offered his own version. Jennings says he expects a bill to pass in some form this year.

The local hearing is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. at Leavelle McCampbell Middle School.

Contact J.C. Lexow at jlexow@aikenstandard.com.

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