HB 145 also passed the Florida House by a vote of 93-27. Its companion, SB 2006 was heard on Wednesday, March 22 in the Senate Judiciary Committee and passed by a vote of 5-3 and is on its way to the full Senate. Call to action – Now is the time for you to contact your state Senator and ask for their “yes” vote on SB 2006 by Sen. Dan Webster, R-Winter Garden, when it is heard on the Senate floor.  Please find your Senator here.  When you have contacted your Senator, please e-mail govaffairs@ficpa.org to let us know their response.  Your participation is key on this important issue.

• Joint-and-several liability is an unfair concept that lumps together the most responsible and the least responsible parties named as defendants into one lawsuit and holds them financially responsible at the same rate;
  
  
• Under current Florida law, CPAs could be forced to pay 100% of damages for a claim even if they are only partially or minimally responsible;
  
  
• A fair and equitable justice system would dictate that if an individual or business is 25% at fault, they should be liable for 25% of the damages – not for 100% simply because they have deep pockets; and
  
  
• Joint-and-several liability reform is gaining momentum. Thirty-five states have already abolished or modified the principle of joint-and-several liability making their states more business friendly than Florida.