skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, September 20, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

General Assembly Looks at a Question about Fairness in Justice

play audio
Play

Wednesday, May 19, 2010   

RALEIGH, N. C. - The General Assembly is set to tackle an issue that some believe is a matter of fairness in the justice system, while others say it could lead to higher insurance rates.

At issue is whether to change the civil justice system, now based on the concept of contributory negligence, to a comparative fault system used in most other states. The contributory system means, if a court decides a victim is even one percent responsible for an accident, the person 99 percent responsible is exempted from paying any damages. State Senator Pete Brunstetter (R-Forsythe) is the sponsor of a bill (HB 813) to change the law.

"The system is just unfair, and 46 states have adopted some form of comparative fault - which is the system that we're looking for - which just is a fairer measure of somebody's responsibility to another in an accident."

Comparative fault means those responsible could be held accountable in civil court for their level of involvement. Insurance industry lobbyists have warned that changing to a comparative fault system will result in a hike in insurance rates. Brunstetter agrees insurance premium costs are a valid concern, but says there is no proof that rates would rise.

"I don't think the evidence shows that there's necessarily a strong relationship between whether you have a comparative system or a contributory system and what it does to insurance rates."

A recent actuarial study of two states that changed their systems to what North Carolina is considering (Tennessee and South Carolina), did not find any rapid rises in premiums. The legislation has received bipartisan support.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …


Social Issues

play sound

This Saturday marks the International Day of Peace and the advocacy group Nonviolent Peaceforce is kicking off a series of family-friendly events in M…

Environment

play sound

Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…


Nebraska is one of 10 states to confirmed abortion-related constitutional amendment measures on the ballot in November. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Some ballot initiatives this year have taken more than voter signatures to get onto the ballot in Nebraska. They've already withstood major court …

Environment

play sound

Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

Social Issues

play sound

A new study showed as Texas has emerged as a national leader in wind turbine and solar energy installations, clean energy workers often face …

play sound

Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021