HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 87-07 ��,�,;�.x.n,,,� ..___,,.. ,_ _
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RESOLUTION N0. R 87-7
WHEREAS, cities throughout the State have experienced dramatie
changes in the last several yeara coneerning the availability ,
eost, and adequacy of publie liability insuranee ; and
WHEREAS, such changes nave had a profound detrimental impaet on
the financial condition of c3. ties and have inereased the burden
on their taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, annual increases in the cost of premiums for such
insurance by several hundred pereent have become commonplace ; and
WHEREAS, sueh insurance has, in many instances, become
unavailable to Texas cities, ; and
WHEREAS, a ma�or cause of sueh insuranee crisis is the explosion
of tort liability and damage awards in this State and throughout
' the Nation; and
�� WHEREAS, a trend is oecurring whieh has resulted in an inerease
in the amount of and number of court awards based on faetors
whieh are not rel:ated to economie loss, ineluding awards for pain
and suffering, and awards of punitive damages; and
', WHEREAS, in this year, a Texas Court of Appeals upheld an award
' of punitive damages against a municipality, such case being the
first reported case of a Texas Appellate Court upholding an award
of punitive damages against a municipality; and
WHEREAS, in this year, the Texas Supreme Court held , for the
first time, that attorneys' fees may be awarded against a
municipality under the Texas Attorneys Fees Statute; and
WHEREAS, the City Couneil of the City of Friendswood , Texas finds
that in order to ameliorate the insurance crisis and the
financial burden resulting therefrom, and in order to reduce the
frequency of exeessive court awards, which awards both cause and
exacerbate sueh erisis , it is necessary that the Legislature
adopt legislation for the reform of tort law, and adopt
legislation affeeting the kind and amount of damages that may be
awarded against munieipalities in Texas ;
NOW , THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
�
Friendswood, Texas : ,
That the City Council urges the Members of the
Legislature to adopt legislation for the re-
form of tvrt law, and adopt legislation
governing the eharaeter and amount of damages
that may be awarded against munieipalities in
Texas. -
c
PASSED AND APPROVED at City of Friendswood , Texas this 9th day of
March 1987 .
_ � �� c9-�-"�
Ralph L. Lowe, Mayor
ATT ST:
Delo is MeRenzi , C
City Seeretary
DM/�t