Weekly Legislative Update
March 20, 2009

The second half
Hearings next week on CPA,
other bills

Only five bills remain.  That’s not too bad considering there were nearly two dozen to begin with.  Having said that, the five that remain are of significant consequence to LRC members. 

Next week, legislators will hear bills that expand the Consumer Protection Act, limit the use of protective orders and increase contractor liability.  It will be a busy week for the LRC.

First up, is HB 1683 which increases the damages allowed under the CPA and changes long-standing case law by making it much easier to file a CPA lawsuit.  This bill will be heard in the Senate Labor and Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee on Monday, March 23.  Also on the agenda that day is HB 1393 which creates additional liability (hence, cost) for already-burdened contractors. 

On Wednesday, March 25 the House Judiciary Committee will take up SB 5531 (another expansion of the CPA, similar to HB 1683) and SB 5886, a measure to limit the effectiveness of protective orders.  The amended version of SB 5886 narrows the scope of the bill but the impacts continue to be of concern.  The LRC is working this bill with its members and legislators to reach common ground.  Both SB 5531 and SB 5886 are scheduled for executive session on Thursday, March 26.  Things are moving quickly. 

For a complete list of the liability bill action, see the LRC’s bill tracker.  

A lawsuit for the dogs
Half a million bucks for barking

According to a story in the New York Post, a woman has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against her neighbors, her building management company, and the owners of her building.  The problem?  Yapping dogs.  The plaintiff is seeking a restraining order against the dogs and a hefty payment to ease the “emotional and physical distress” caused by the pint-sized Chihuahuas.