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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1987-003 fRtøøluttøn No. 87-3 Qtitg of N ort~ Bit~lanb )l ills WHEREAS, cities throughout the State have experienced dramatic changes in the last several years concerning the availability, cost, and adequacy of public liability insurance; and WHEREAS, such changes have had a profound detrimental impact on the financial condition of cities and have increased the burden on their taxpayers; and WHEREAS, annual increases in the cost of premiums for such insurance by several hundred percent have become commonplace; and WHEREAS, such insurance has, in many instances, become unavailable to Texas cities; and WHEREAS, a major cause of such insurance crisis is the explosion of tort liability and damage awards in this State and throughout the Nation; and WHEREAS, a trend is occurring which has resulted in an increase in the amount of and number of court awards based on factors which are not related to economic loss, including awards of pain and suffering, and awards of punitive damages; and WHEREAS, in 1986, 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, the City Council of the City of North Richland Hills finds that in order to ameliorate the insurance crisis and the financial burden resulting therefrom, and in order to reduce the frequency of excessive court awards, which awards both cause and exacerbate such crisis, it is necessary that the Legislature adopt legislation for the reform of tort law, and adopt legislation affecting the kind and amount of damages that may be awarded against municipalities in Texas; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of North Richland Hills that the City Council urges the Members of the Legislature to adopt legislation for the reform of tort law, and adopt legislation governing the character and amount of damages that may be awarded against municipalities in Texas. Resolution No. 87-3 Page 2 PASSED AND APPROVED this 12th day of January, 1987. ~~ Dan Echols, Mayor ATTEST: