2009 Legislative Changes to Liability for Good Samaritans

In August the legislature passed, and the governor signed into law, two measures in response to the Supreme Court ruling in Van Horn v. Watson. The court chose a narrow interpretation affording liability protection only to medical assistance. Due to fears that laypeople or volunteers would be reluctant to render aid, the legislature passed these measures to firm up the law surrounding good samaritans, and their assumed liability. Now, it seems, that only egregious gross negligence will get you into legal trouble. Click the link below to read the actual document from CalEMA.

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