Reportedly, more than 19,000 Texans die each year of heart attacks before arriving at a hospital. Some of those people could have been saved if their heart was restarted within moments of cardiac arrest. State legislators expanded the so-called Good Samaritan law by providing civil immunity for those who use a defibrillator in an emergency, provided they are properly trained. A companion bill allows medical professionals to volunteer their services free from the fear of a lawsuit. The medical care must be performed on behalf of a charitable organization and within the scope of the doctor's or nurse's expertise.
Many people rely on affordable self-help law products to handle routine legal problems.
The legislation was passed in response to legal actions against Nolo Press, publisher of 150 self-help law products. The Legislature rejected efforts to reform class action and third party lawsuits. Currently, jurors are not allowed to consider the conduct of the employer in a work-related injury or an uncaught criminal in a premises liability case.