www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-21 13:57:00
(The Center Square) – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill Monday that would change the state’s legal climate, supporters said.
The tort reform package passed by the General Assembly would require attorneys to focus on actual pain and suffering during a civil trial but does not place a limit on a jury’s award, according to Kemp’s office.
Businesses would only be held responsible for what they “directly control,” according to the bill.
Supporters said the bill would lower insurance costs in the state.
“My position on this important issue has not changed – these are not anti-lawyer or pro-insurance bills, these are pro-Georgia bills,” said Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. “From the extensive debate we saw on this issue, it is clear that the environment we are in right now is not playing well consistently and something had to change to level the playing field. These much-needed reforms, which I was proud to support, strike a balance by stabilizing insurance costs for businesses and consumers, while increasing transparency and fairness for all Georgia citizens.”
Georgia ranked fourth in the American Tort Reform Association’s “Judicial Hellholes” report, dropping from the top spot only because other states had a larger volume of “abuses,” the organization said. Nuclear verdicts cost Georgians a “tort tax” of $1,372.94 each year, according to the association and costs the state 137,658 jobs annually.
Senate President Pro Tem John F. Kennedy, R-Macon, said the bill “cracks down on predatory litigation financers.”
“This billion-dollar industry, often backed by foreign actors, has no place in our civil justice system,” Kennedy said. “With this legislation, we are upholding the integrity of Georgia’s courts and strengthening consumer protections statewide.”
The issue was Kemp’s top priority during the 2025 session. He threatened lawmakers with a special session if the bill did not pass.
“Today is a victory for the people of our state who for too long were suffering the impacts of an out-of-balance legal environment,” Kemp said.
State business leaders backed the package.
“These new laws will bring much-needed fairness and transparency to a system that has become costly and unpredictable,” said Georgia Public Policy Foundation President Kyle Wingfield. “Georgia has long been recognized as the best state in the nation to do business, and these reforms will help ensure it remains that way.”
Detractors said there was no evidence that it would lower insurance premiums.
Others were afraid the bills would affect claims brought by victims of sex trafficking and rape. The bill was amended to exempt human trafficking victims’ claims.
SUMMARY: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement has sparked excitement, with Visit Savannah inviting the couple to wed in the scenic Coastal Empire. Visit Savannah president Joseph Marinelli highlighted the city’s beauty, celebrity-friendly community, and nearby honeymoon spot Tybee Island. The city is known for hosting celebrity weddings, including Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in 2022, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Bessette in 1996, Mandy Moore and Ryan Adams in 2009, and Paula Deen in 2004. Savannah’s charm and reputation as a bucket-list destination make it an ideal wedding location for the superstar couple.
SUMMARY: Six suspects linked to a deadly July 2 shooting at Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah, Ga., are moving closer to murder indictment. Four appeared in court: Royce Haynes, Theron Robbins, Franklin James, and Johnathan Jones; Aujawan Hymon and Dahmil Johnson are scheduled later. Police identified two rival gang groups involved: 2X (Group A: Hymon, Haynes, James, Jones) and 3X (Group B: Robbins, Johnson). A physical fight escalated into a shootout, resulting in the death of Tina Smith, who died due to physiological stress fleeing the gunfire. Defense motions to dismiss felony murder charges were denied. Indictments, possibly including gang charges, are expected by October 1.
A special election is underway to fill the Georgia state Senate seat vacated by Republican Brandon Beach, now U.S. Treasurer. Democrat Debra Shigley led Tuesday’s primary with about 40% of the vote, advancing to a runoff against the leading Republican, either Jason Dickerson or Steve West, who are narrowly split around 17% each. Over 20,000 voters participated, a 14% turnout. Shigley, an attorney and small business owner, emphasizes affordability, education, and healthcare, gaining notable endorsements. The district is heavily Republican, but Shigley’s strong showing signals growing Democratic momentum ahead of the Sept. 23 runoff to decide the winner.
The lone Democrat in a seven-way race has advanced to a runoff in a special election that will decide who will replace former Alpharetta Republican state Sen. Brandon Beach, but the top GOP candidates in the contest were still battling it out for second place late Tuesday night.
Democrat Debra Shigley had a strong showing Tuesday night, racking up about 40% of the vote. Republicans Jason Dickerson and Steve West were still neck and neck for second place Tuesday night, earning 17.4% and 17.1% of the vote, respectively. Dickerson held a narrow 65-vote edge over West.
Over 20,000 voters cast their ballots in the special election, amounting to a 14% turnout rate.
Since no candidate cleared 50% of the vote to win the race outright Tuesday, the top two candidates will face off for a second time on Sept. 23.
Dickerson, Shigley and West were among the seven qualified candidates seeking to replace Beach, who resigned from the Senate earlier this year after President Donald Trump appointed Beach to serve as the 46th U.S. Treasurer. The district, which includes parts of Fulton and Cherokee counties, is predominantly Republican, with Beach receiving upwards of 70% of the vote against a Democratic challenger in 2024.
Dickerson, a Cherokee County resident, is the president of Purple Chip Capital Management, a private investment firm. He has cast himself as a political outsider who plans to prioritize property tax relief and improving access to affordable housing for seniors. Dickerson also reported the highest campaign contributions of any candidate in the race, loaning himself $500,000 and raising an additional $100.
Republican Steve West, the CEO of a metal fabrication company, is currently in third place. West was a member of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners from 2014 until this year, when he stepped down to run for the state Senate. His platform includes a broad range of conservative policy proposals, including eliminating the state income tax, strengthening Georgia’s economy, and cracking down on illegal immigration. He also proposed ending Georgia’s state film tax credit.
Democrats, meanwhile, have rallied behind Shigley, an Alpharetta mom, attorney and small business owner. The only Democratic candidate in the race, Shigley said she aims to improve affordability for families, strengthen public school systems and expand access to health care. She has received endorsements from U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, and progressive organizations including the Georgia Win List and Reproductive Freedom for All.
Shigley’s advancement to the runoff was seen as a success for Democrats, who are seeking to flip the deep-red district. Shigley gained nearly 10 points over Lillia Michelle Lionel, who challenged Beach last year.
“My team and I are more than ready to continue this historic momentum,” Shigley said in a statement. “I am very proud of the campaign we have run so far, and it is clear that our vision — for an affordable, healthy, educated Georgia where working families can thrive — is resonating with our neighbors.”
Dickerson and West did not immediately reply to requests for comment Tuesday night.
Georgia Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon said he wasn’t surprised to see Shigley in the lead in the jungle primary when asked about the early results around 8 p.m., but he said he expected Republican voters to consolidate behind the GOP candidate in the runoff election.
“It’s really dangerous to read a lot into a special election,” he said. “This is an election taking place in the dead of summer. People are returning from summer vacation. People don’t know there’s an election. They’re not used to voting at this time of year.”
But Democratic officials are optimistic about their chances in the runoff election.
“Debra was the top vote-getter in a deep-red district against a field of six Republicans — a testament not only to Debra’s strong leadership and bold vision for Senate District 21, but to the undeniable Democratic momentum building across our state,” Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey said in a statement. “Now it’s time to carry this momentum forward into the runoff.”
Deputy Editor Ross Williams contributed to this report.
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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jill Nolin for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The content provides a balanced overview of a special election in Georgia, presenting information about both Democratic and Republican candidates without evident favoritism. It includes details on candidates’ platforms, endorsements, and election dynamics from multiple perspectives, maintaining a neutral tone throughout. The article focuses on factual reporting rather than opinion, reflecting a centrist approach to political coverage.
