OK High Court Tosses Lawsuit Measure
Oklahoma lawsuit reform measure tossed out
By Michael McNutt Modified: June 4, 2013
The Oklahoma Supreme Court in a sweeping decision Tuesday tossed out a comprehensive lawsuit reform measure approved and signed into law in 2009.
The high court in a 7-2 ruling stated the measure, called the Comprehensive Lawsuit Reform Act of 2009, was unconstitutional because it violated the single-subject rule of the state constitution by logrolling several subjects into one.
“This bill is unconstitutional and void in its entirety,” the order reads.
The measure, House Bill 1603, dealt with how lawsuits are treated in court cases ranging from personal injury to medical malpractice. The measure was intended to help curb frivolous lawsuits and reduce costs associated with the justice system, among other things.
The ruling means lawsuits and how they are filed will revert to before the measure took in effect in 2009.