May 10 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The Issues Forum focused on tort reform and featured keynote addresses by state Senator Dale Volker and Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, sponsors of the Volker-Morelle Civil Justice Act.
Tort reform is about a dramatic increase in the cost of doing business.
Assemblyman Morelle said reform would both restore balance and fairness to the civil-justice system and enhance New York's competitiveness by reducing the burden of lawsuits on New York. In addition, panelists representing business, local governments and doctors outlined many diverse arguments for tort reform. Lawrence Kahn, chief litigator for New York City, said half the city's annual expenditure on tort claims would fund 3,000 police officers. He proposed federal action that would increase competition in power markets in New York State by reducing regulation. He did not provide specifics.