The Florida Chamber of Commerce is asking the state's legislature to pass a bill to provide businesses protection from frivolous lawsuits regarding COVID-19.
Florida Chamber of Commerce vice president of Public Affairs Edie Ousley said the chamber, along with local chambers, will be detailing their requests in a letter to Congress as soon as all local chambers have had a chance to sign it.
"Right now we have about 50 to 51 local chambers that have signed on to our statewide letter supporting safe-harbor protections from unwanted lawsuits," Ousley said in an interview with The Florida Record.
Ousley said the letter is from local chambers of commerce and not from individual businesses or others that support legal liability protections.
"We will leave the letter out there for another week or so, so others have time to sign it," Ousley said.
Ousley said earlier this week in Cook County, Illinois, a lawsuit against McDonald's that was backed by labor unions was heard. That case alleges that McDonald's failed to provide adequate equipment to protect workers from health risks associated with the coronavirus.
Ousley said the chamber, as well as others, will be watching the outcome of this case.
"We've been actively engaged on this issue for a long time," Ousley said.
Ousley said people at many different levels of government in Florida are supporting legal liability protections. She said even Vice President Mike Pence is supportive of a safe harbor protections approach.
Ousley said the more than 200 local chambers across the state have been meeting with the Florida Chamber on a weekly basis.
The letter, dated June 1, says that businesses have provided supplies during the pandemic and have made changes to make sure the right products were being produced.
"Businesses have innovated to provide much needed supplies during the pandemic, such as distillers producing hand sanitizer or manufacturers switching their operations to produce personal protective equipment," the letter states. "During the stay-at-home order, essential businesses remained open and were the front lines in providing critical services and supplies. Now millions of other businesses are in the process of reopening, desiring to do so in a safe manner that protects their employees and customers."
The letter asks Congress to consider crafting and passing legislation to help protect businesses from unwarranted lawsuits that could end up undermining the safe and orderly return to work for Florida employees.