FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 28, 2009
Contact: Chad Previch
cprevich@saxumpr.com
(Office) 405.608.0445 or (Cell) 405.487.9249

OKLAHOMA CITY – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce honored The State Chamber of Oklahoma Wednesday, Oct. 28 for its work on lawsuit reform. Members of The State Chamber were given The State Leadership Award at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Legal Reform Summit in Washington, D.C.

The award was given for The State Chamber’s years of legal reform advocacy that helped lead to passage of the Comprehensive Lawsuit Reform Act of 2009. The U.S. Chamber called the act “one of the single-most significant legislative packages signed into law this year and a blueprint for all states still in need of tort reform.”

The law goes into effect Sunday, Nov. 1.

“This award is an honor and it is the culmination of nearly two decades of work by State Chamber employees, our member businesses, members of Oklahoma’s Legislature and countless reform advocates,” said Richard P. Rush, president and CEO of The State Chamber. “I want to thank the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for their national leadership on this economically-important and pressing issue.”

The U.S. Chamber pointed out that the reform package included class action reforms, a cap on appeals bonds, adoption of summary judgment similar to that allowed in federal lawsuits, joint and several liability reforms, product liability reforms, junk science testimony rules, certificates of merit and a cap on non-economic damages.

The State Chamber of Oklahoma: Representing more than 2,000 Oklahoma businesses and 400,000 employees, The State Chamber of Oklahoma has been the state’s leading advocate for business since 1926. For more information, visit www.okstatechamber.com.

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