Illinois Valley Times

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) fears what recently passed Senate Bill 72 could ultimately mean for many Illinois residents already struggling to hold on.

“Judging by all the business groups that opposed this bill, it’s fair to say SB 72 is a bill that will hurt small businesses and expose healthcare workers who have been working long hours during the pandemic,” Rezin said during Senate debate on the measure before it eventually passed both Houses.

“Make no mistake, Illinois is a state that favors trial attorneys over businesses,” Rezin added. “This bill will drive up rates at the expense of hurting our businesses and challenging our small businesses that are trying to survive during a pandemic.”

Set to take effect on July 1, 2021, SB 72 stipulates “that in all actions brought to recover damages for personal injury or wrongful death resulting from or occasioned by the conduct of any other person or entity, whether by negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, intentional conduct, or strict liability of the other person or entity, the plaintiff shall recover prejudgment interest on specified damages and costs set forth in the judgment.”

Even as chief sponsor Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) insisted that the bill is only intended to address the “imbalance in a typical personal injury case,” where the defendant is often insured and the plaintiff is not, at least 28 state agencies opposed the measure, among them the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Manufacturers Association and several healthcare providers and hospitals.

In addition to Harmon, Sens. Kimberly Lightfoot (D-Maywood), Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo), Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) and Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) all supported the measure, as did Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the House.