Attorneys in the state of Mississippi received discouraging news this week when state lawmakers passed legislation placing caps on product-liability damages and issued other provisions aimed at protecting defendants of personal injury lawsuits. Under the new law, which emerged from an 83-day special legislative session, punitive damages will be capped at $20 million for the largest corporations and businesses with a valuation of less than $50 million will not be forced to pay more than four percent of their net worth in punitive damages.

Defendants found to be less than 30 percent at fault will only be responsible for non-economic damages equal to their portion of the blame. Defendants found more than 30 percent responsible will be forced to pay no more than 50 percent of non-economic damages. Multiple lawsuits by cities and counties against gun manufacturers will be limited under the new provisions and out-of-state plaintiffs will be discouraged from joining lawsuits.

Mississippi lawmakers have heavily supported tort reform in recent months. In October, Governor Ronnie Musgrove signed a bill that places a cap on future pain-and-suffering awards in medical malpractice law cases. The bill limits pain-and-suffering damages at $500,000, increasing to $750,000 in 2011 and $1 million in 2017.