New law gives Ohio employers temporary civil immunity from COVID-19 lawsuits

Governor Michael DeWine recently signed legislation Ohio employers are likely to celebrate, granting civil immunity to businesses from COVID-19-related lawsuits.

Pandemic's ‘cataclysmic impact’

It’s no secret the COVID-19 pandemic has had a cataclysmic impact on small and large businesses across the state of Ohio. Some businesses have been shuttered indefinitely, while other companies have had to adjust on the fly and upend their operations to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

Employers that have been able to reopen also have faced the question of whether they’re subject to tort (or wrongful personal injury) liability if an employee, customer, vendor, or other person contracts COVID-19 while on the premises. House Bill (HB) 606 now answers that question, at least in the short term.

On September 14, 2020, Governor DeWine signed HB 606 into law, which has two chief functions—providing civil immunity for both (1) healthcare providers who deliver medical services and (2) businesses. This article focuses on the latter.

What new law says