Strauss in ‘Consumer Reports’ on COVID Liability Waivers

St. Louis Partner Bettina Strauss was quoted July 2 by Consumer Reports regarding the trend of businesses asking customers to sign documents waiving their right to sue in the event they contract COVID-19 on the premises as well as legislative efforts to give businesses immunity from lawsuits. Strauss said the waivers would protect businesses from frivolous lawsuits. “Frivolous lawsuits can have a potentially devastating impact on companies, so they’re doing everything they can to avoid defending against them,” she told the publication. “A waiver doesn’t prevent people from filing lawsuits, but it’s a disincentive for a lawyer to take a case on and it would allow a company a quicker exit from a frivolous lawsuit should one be filed.”