The annual ritual to make it easier for plaintiffs lawyers to seek treble damages in most lawsuits died yesterday (April 1) in the Colorado Senate on a vote of 16-19.

Thank you to the bipartisan coalition of Senators who recognized Senate Bill 157 as bad public policy that will only drive up the cost of homes, home and auto insurance, and ultimately add a hidden “tort tax” to many of the goods and services Coloradans buy and sell.

Thank you, also, to our members and allies in the business community for their diligent efforts to defeat this bill as in years past.

Voting NO were Senators Judy Amabile (D-Boulder), Mark Baisley (R-Woodland Park), Scott Bright (R-Brighton), John Carson (R-Highlands Ranch), Marc Catlin (R-Montrose), Lindsay Daugherty (D-Arvada), Lisa Frizell (R-Castle Rock), Barbara Kirkmeyer (R-Brighton), Larry Liston (R-Colorado Springs), Paul Lundeen (R-Monument), Janice Marchman (D-Loveland), Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City), Kyle Mullica (R-Thornton), Byron Pelton (R-Sterling), Rod Pelton (R-Cheyenne Wells), Janice Rich (R-Grand Junction), Dylan Roberts (D-Edwards), Cleave Simpson (R-Alamosa), and Marc Snyder (D-Manitou Springs).