Governor Bob Taft is traveling the state to promote Senate Bill 80, a bill that would limit punitive and non-economic damages, change the statute of limitations in some product liability cases and protect drug makers against civil lawsuits if their products have been cleared by federal regulators.
The bill also includes a section on asbestos litigation that would limit the ability to sue the successors of asbestos manufacturers.
Taft went to Cincinnati and Dayton on October 8 and planned a stop in Toledo on October 9. In each city, he is meeting with business owners who say lawsuits are driving up their costs, forcing them to raise prices or consider going out of business.
The bill passed the Ohio Senate and is now being considered by the House of Representatives. Opponents argue some provisions of the law violate the Ohio constitution, which enshrines citizens' rights to seek "adequate remedy" through a jury trial. The Ohio Supreme Court has struck down similar laws in the past.