State Rep. Thomas Albert today led the Michigan House in approving a bipartisan plan to protect businesses, non-profit organizations, child care centers and other Michigan job providers from becoming the target of unwarranted lawsuits related to COVID-19.

Albert, of Lowell, said job providers throughout Michigan have been hit hard by the coronavirus and the mandatory shutdowns it caused. Now that most have begun to reopen, many job providers are worried about the possibility of facing lawsuits if a visitor or employee claims to have contracted COVID-19 at their facility – even though they have been complying with the recommended health and safety protocols.

“Michigan needs healthy people and a healthy economy to thrive,” Albert said. “A wave of frivolous lawsuits would devastate job providers that are already struggling financially. We must create an environment where local restaurants, shops, child care centers and other entities can reopen safely and responsibly without being vulnerable to frivolous lawsuits.”

Under House Bills 6030-32 and 6101, job providers cannot be held liable for lawsuits related to the COVID-19 pandemic if they are taking reasonable steps to follow public health guidelines. The plan also provides more certainty for workers by preventing employers from taking adverse action against employees for following health protocols related to COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has created an unprecedented situation, and our current laws do not do enough to protect employers and employees who have done nothing wrong from those who are looking to turn the pandemic into their own financial gain,” Albert said. “An opportunistic attorney can easily pressure someone to settle, regardless of whether they have been negligent, by bringing a class action lawsuit or a flood of individual claims.”

The plan now advances to the Senate for further consideration.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Thomas Albert gives a speech in support of his plan to protect businesses, universities, non-profit organizations, child care centers and other Michigan job providers from becoming the target of unwarranted lawsuits related to COVID-19.