Shreveport Representative Michael Melerine would like to see a veto session after his bill to reform the state’s current collateral source rule was vetoed by the governor. Melerine said his House Bill 423 could have helped lower auto insurance premiums by awarding payouts that match the cost of a person’s medical bills following a car crash.
“We owe it to the people of Louisiana to go in and look at every bill that’s been vetoed and say, ‘Yes, I agree with it. No, I don’t. Let’s try to override it.'”
Governor Landry vetoed 27 bills from the recently completed regular session, and the veto of House Bill 423 is getting the most attention because Melerine said it is part of a package of bills that would have improved the legal climate for auto insurance companies.
“So we have to show their executives that we’re serious and that we’re making changes to make it more friendly.”
Landry said the proposed change to the Collateral Source Doctrine would result in car crash victims not receiving the payouts they deserved following a car crash. He said he’s trying to protect the working class.
“If you’re going to protect the working class, the Collateral Source Doctrine is the only portion of tort law that protects the working class.”
But Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said the current Collateral Source Doctrine produces windfall payments that result in accident victims getting more than they deserve.
“If you’re driving a Ford and your Ford is damaged, you get another Ford. You don’t get a Ferrari.”
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