Articles/Letters/Commentar

Commentary:  Civil Justice Tort Reform in the US Virgin Islands

May 2, 2006

The United States Virgin Islands (V.I.) desperately needs civil justice tort reform and the firm’s senior partner, Brit Bryant, has been in the forefront of those efforts as the longest admitted practicing lawyer in St. Croix.  This firm is working to get such reform, particularly in the abolishment of joint and several liability and capping damages.

In the V.I. there is already limited liability in motor vehicle accidents of $75,000, exclusive of strict liability, but only for non-economic damages.  For years even the doctor’s maximum liability in the V.I. was limited to a total gross amount of $250,000 per negligent act and a maximum of $750,000 for all acts in the incident, per plaintiff, which should provide a basis for at least some limitation of for all non-economic damages in any suit.  This firm, the leading civil defense litigation, mediation and arbitration firm in the entire U.S. Virgin Islands, is continuing its efforts in this regard.  Previously, while in the V.I. Legislature, Bryant was instrumental in proposing numerous statutory enactments and code modifications to improve and strengthen the quality of law, civilly and criminally, in the territory.