The trucking industry is voicing strong criticism following Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ veto of Senate Bill 613, a proposed legal reform intended to cap non-economic damages in civil litigation at $1 million. This legislative measure, which passed the State Assembly by voice vote and the State Senate with a 21-11 majority, aimed to curb what the industry perceives as rampant lawsuit abuse that unfairly targets trucking companies.
Ed Gilroy, Chief Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), expressed disappointment over the veto, characterizing it as a “missed opportunity” to bring fairness to the Wisconsin legal system. He argued that the reform would have prevented the civil litigation system from being exploited for profit by the plaintiffs’ bar, thus reducing the financial burden on the trucking industry and ultimately on consumers through lower insurance rates and product prices.
The trucking industry, critical to both the national and Wisconsin economies, provides over 180,000 jobs in the state and is essential for delivering goods to more than 77 percent of communities that rely exclusively on trucks. Industry advocates warn that without such reforms, the cost of goods could continue to rise, driven by the soaring expenses from legal settlements and insurance premiums.
From 2010 to 2018, there was a dramatic increase in the scale of lawsuit awards against trucking companies, with the average size of large verdicts growing from $2.3 million to $22.3 million—an increase of nearly 1,000 percent. This surge not only highlights the financial stakes involved but also underscores the trucking industry’s vulnerability to litigation that many believe is often frivolous or motivated by profit rather than justice.
Governor Evers’ veto is seen by many in the trucking industry as a decision that favors the interests of trial lawyers over those of trucking companies, their employees, and consumers. The ongoing debate reflects broader national conversations about the balance between ensuring fair compensation for injury and preventing legal system abuse that can stifle economic activity and inflate costs for everyday Americans.
The ATA and other industry stakeholders continue to advocate for reforms that they argue are necessary to protect the trucking industry’s ability to operate safely and efficiently, without the disproportionate threat of litigation hanging over their operations. The controversy surrounding this veto serves as a focal point for discussions on the intersection of legal practices, economic impact, and transportation logistics in Wisconsin and beyond.
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