Taking Aim at Runaway Verdicts in Civil Law
It’s taken almost a month of session, but select, long-awaited legal reform measures are finally being scheduled—and today a major priority for LABI takes center stage in House Civil Law.
HB 526 by Rep. Kellee Hennessy Dickerson (R-Denham Springs) sets a reasonable limit of $500,000 on general (non-economic) damages—the hard-to-quantify losses like pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium.
This reform is about restoring predictability and consistency to Louisiana’s civil justice system. Without reasonable guardrails, verdicts can vary widely based on venue, jury composition or litigation strategy—creating uncertainty that drives up insurance costs for businesses and families across the state. By setting clear, reasonable limits on non-economic damages, the bill helps rein in excessive awards, stabilize insurance markets and improve affordability statewide while preserving full recovery for medical bills, lost wages and other measurable economic losses.
Importantly, the legislation recognizes that not all injuries are the same. The bill’s cap on general damages increases to $1 million for plaintiffs who suffer a permanent mental injury and are unable to work. Additionally, HB 526 will not apply when a plaintiff is found to have suffered permanent and severe physical injury and/or the defendant acted maliciously or with intent.
Measures like this are essential to rein in nuclear verdicts that create instability and drive up insurance costs for everyone. Bringing greater predictability to Louisiana’s legal environment will encourage growth and investment while maintaining fair compensation for those who are injured.
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