Tort reform again tops list of MACPA's legislative victories

ANNAPOLIS — The 416th session of the Maryland General Assembly was a quiet one for the state's CPAs, but the MACPA earned a number of notable legislative victories nonetheless.

Topping the list was tort reform, an annual legislative enemy of the MACPA that quietly resurfaced this year but did not make it out of the Senate Rules Committee.

It might be saving its energy for 2003.

Senate Bill 872, titled "Maryland Comparative Negligence Act," was introduced in February by Sen. Nathaniel Exum, D-24. But without a concentrated effort by its supporters, the bill died in the Rules Committee.

As in past years, the bill sought to replace Maryland's contributory negligence doctrine with comparative fault, which would increase exposure to liability for CPAs and their clients.

The MACPA is opposed to such reform. The association believes Maryland's current standard of contributory negligence defends businesses against trivial claims that would make their way to a jury in a comparative fault regime.

There are signs that tort reform's supporters will mount a strong campaign in 2003. Thankfully, the MACPA has been overwhelmingly successful in its opposition in the past and, if needed, will launch an even stronger campaign next year.