HomeMy WebLinkAbout19659 ORD - 03/10/1987A RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING TORT REFORM AND LOWER INSURANCE PREMIUM COST; AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Corpus Christi finds that there
are inequities in the present civil justice system which result in greater
expanded liability for Texas cities leading to increased litigation and
exorbitant liability insurance costs; and
WHEREAS, this atmosphere has resulted in a proliferation of damage suits;
an increased number of excessive awards; reduced the availability of liability
insurance; and produced exorbitant premiums for less coverage; all of which has
a tendency to raise city taxes but lower city services; and
WHEREAS, the cost for insurance for the City of Corpus Christi this year is
$874,000 as compared to $658,000 last year which difference would provide seven
policemen or 14 senior -center employees or reduce the tax rate; and
WHEREAS, such tort liability crisis and liability insurance crisis are
evidenced by a large and growing number of lawsuits brought against cities,
large and growing awards resulting from those lawsuits and increasing costs of
liability coverage or reductions in coverage provisions and limits or, in some
case, the absolute unavailability of such coverage:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORPUS
CHRISTI:
Section 1. That the City of Corpus Christi hereby supports meaningful Tort
Reform and urges the 70th Texas Legislature to enact legislation and submit to a
vote of the people Constitutional Amendments to remedy such situation.
Section 2. That the 70th Texas Legislature reduce the unacceptable high
level of unpredictability regarding municipal liability which leads to increased
cost and reduced availability of liability in the following areas:
1. Public official liability for errors and omissions;
2. Abolish the doctrine of joint and several liability; and
3. Enactment of limits of liability for so called "proprietary"
municipal operations.
Section 3. That the 70th Texas Legislature enact legislation that will
lower the cost of insurance premiums.
Section 4. That the City Secretary is authorized and directed to send
copies of this Resolution to Senator Carlos Truan, Speaker Pro Tem Hugo Berlanga
and Representatives Eddie Cavazos and Ted Roberts, and to Senator Ike Harris,
Chairman of Economic Development Committee, Texas Senate.
Section 5. That upon written request of the Mayor or five Council members,
copy attached, to find and declare an emergency due to the immediate desire of
the City Council to convey to the 70th Legislature its support of Tort Reform
03P.113.04
19659 MICROFILMED
and lower insurance premium costs such finding of an emergency is made and
declared requiring suspension of the Charter rule as to consideration and voting
upon ordinances or resolutions at three regular meetings so that this resolution
is passed and shall take effect upon first reading as an emergency measure this
10th day of March, 1987.
ATTEST:
city Secretary MAYO
THE CITY Of CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
APPROVED: /17 DAY OF MARCH, 1987
03P.113.04
Corpus Christi, /T/e�xxaass
day of �j ' l ' ' , 1981.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Corpus Christi, Texas
For the reasons set forth in the emergency clause of the foregoing ordinance
or resolution, an emergency exists requiring suspension of the Charter rule
as to consideration and voting upon ordinances or resolutions at three
regular meetings; I/we, therefore, request that you suspend said Charter rule
and pass this ordinance or resolution finally on the date it is introduced,
or at the present meeting of the City Council.
Respectfully,
Council Members
Respectfully,
MAY
HE CITY
F CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
The above ordinance was passeby the following vote:
Luther Jones
Dr. Jack Best
David Berlanga, Sr.
Leo Guerrero
Joe McComb
Frank Mendez
Bill Pruet
Mary Pat Slavik
Linda Strong
196.59`