H.R. 99
119th CONGRESS 1st Session
To require a particular jury instruction in Federal civil actions that include a claim for damages based on negligence arising from the transmission of COVID–19.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 3, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Biggs of Arizona · Committee: Committee on the Judiciary
Table of contents
SEC. 1. Short title
- This Act may be cited as the Protecting Businesses From Frivolous COVID Lawsuits Act of 2025.
SEC. 2. Jury instruction in Federal civil actions that include a claim alleging negligence arising from the transmission of COVID–19
- In a Federal civil action that includes a claim alleging negligence arising from the transmission of COVID–19 and a request for damages, the court shall instruct a jury that—
- the liability standard is the reasonable person standard,
- a person is negligent if the person either does something that a reasonably careful person would not do in the same situation, or fails to do something that a reasonably careful person would do, in the same situation,
- the act of opening a business, by itself, shall be considered to be reasonable as a matter of law, and
- the negligence may not be found solely on the basis of holding oneself open for business.