Florida Enacts COVID-19 Business Liability Shield

On March 29, 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law SB 72, a bill granting liability protections to businesses against COVID-19-related injury and death lawsuits. Effective immediately, the law applies to various business entities (including corporations, joint ventures, etc.) hospitals, nursing homes, schools, government entities, and churches.

The law creates an extremely high threshold for Plaintiffs to overcome in bringing a successful claim. Defendants are shielded from liability absent a showing of gross negligence. In addition, the law dictates that Plaintiffs who file suit will need to provide a physician’s affidavit of merit. This affidavit requires physicians to essentially “vouch” for a Plaintiff’s injury claim and its connection to the Defendant’s acts or omissions. The new law also places the burden of proof on Plaintiffs to establish that the Defendant did not make a “good faith effort” to comply with public health standards and/or guidance. If a court determines that the Defendant made a “good faith effort” to comply (including substantially complying with any one of the standards and/or guidance applicable if multiple sources were controlling at the time), then the Defendant is immune from civil liability.

The law applies retroactively, creating a one-year statute of limitations for all claims.

Back in November, we reported on a number of states that had passed, or were considering passing, legislation aimed at limiting COVID-19 liability for employers. Florida joins a multitude of states, including Ohio, Georgia, and Wisconsin, that have passed COVID-19 indemnity laws and is now the most populous state to implement such strong business protection rules in response to the pandemic.

新型コロナウイルス感染症（COVID-19）は、経済のあらゆる分野の企業に影響を与え続けています。フォリーは、クライアントが事業利益、運営、目標に対する短期的・長期的な影響に効果的に対処できるよう支援します。フォリーは、複数の業界と分野にわたる洞察と戦略を提供し、企業がコロナウイルスの影響に対処しながら事業を行う中で直面する幅広い法的・経営的課題について、タイムリーな視点を提供します。 最新の動向をいち早く把握し、今日の課題と明日の機会に取り組むための主要な出版物はこちらからご覧ください。このコンテンツを直接メールボックスで受け取るには、こちらをクリックしてフォームを送信してください。