The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry supports a tort reform bill that would simplify the rules surrounding class action lawsuits. SB 47, sponsored by Sen. Curtis Trent (R-Springfield), was heard this week by the Senate General Laws Committee, which Trent chairs.
The bill would make several technical changes to bring Missouri’s class action rules in line with federal law.
Trent said the legislation would make the legal process fairer and simpler.
“Rule 23 was adopted in 2018 by the federal courts to create uniformity in procedures surrounding class action lawsuits, particularly when it comes to the timing of when a class is certified and what the definition of a class is for that certification,” Trent said. “These are important landmarks, because they determine whether expensive actions, like discovery, proceed, and it also has impacts on incentives to settle cases and what the value of that settlement is going to be.”
Among those testifying in support of the bill was Matt Price, chief legal officer for Diamond Pet Foods. He told lawmakers that Missouri’s litigation environment is a deterrent to companies looking to relocate or expand.
“If a business in Missouri wants to fight what it believes is an unmeritorious class action, it faces a Hobson’s choice,” Price said. “You either settle early, against your own principles, or you need to buckle up and be ready to spend several years and several millions of dollars to fight it. Most companies in Missouri cannot afford to make this principled stand.”
Missouri has a reputation for its unfair legal climate. In 2024, the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) named Missouri a “Lawsuit Inferno.” ATRA’s Legislative HeatCheck report cites the state legislature’s lack of action on bills that would rein in lawsuit abuse. The Missouri Chamber is leading the push for reforms to bring fairness to our state’s legal system, ensuring legal climate is not an impediment to economic growth.
Missouri Chamber Director of Legislative Affairs Luke Reed testified that this affects businesses of all sizes in Missouri.
“We’re happy to support this bill because of the potential for better investments and more fairness across the playing field,” Reed said.
Rep. Dane Diehl (R-Butler) has filed similar legislation in the House, HB 534.
For more information, contact Reed at lreed@mochamber.com or call (573) 634-3511.
