The bills would restore Michigan to a pre-2023 standard when property owners had more protections against lawsuits for injuries that occur when there’s an “open and obvious” danger.
Wendy Block with the “Michigan Chamber of Commerce” says that old standard was preventing frivolous lawsuits that are now costing the state new investment.
“Businesses invest when and where they have confidence. This includes confidence in the fairness our legal system. That is a key economic competitiveness factor. When that confidence erodes, investment and opportunity they go elsewhere.”
The legislation would also require third parties who pay for lawsuits to register with the state. The bills would ban those third parties from influencing the strategy of a case.
Opponents to the bills argue they would make it harder to hold people and businesses accountable.
Michigan did protect property owners from lawsuits under an “open and obvious” doctrine before the state supreme court overruled it in 2023.
