LOC News
Civil Law Subcommittee Briefed on Tort Claims
The Civil Law Subcommittee, chaired by Representative Karin Power (D-Milwaukie), held an informational hearing Wednesday on the Oregon Tort Claims Act (OTCA) in anticipation of hearing bills that may impact compensation caps.
The OTCA protects public agencies from large damage awards while providing compensation to injured parties. The local government cap is currently $769,000 for an individual and approximately $1.5 million for an incident involving multiple claimants.
Several bills have been introduced this session to change or eliminate the local government tort cap. Cities and other local governments perform numerous essential services that involve risk, such as public works and public safety. The OTCA ensures that public agencies with limited revenue streams may perform those services in that face of those risks.
Contact: Scott Winkels, Lobbyist - swinkels@orcities.org
Last Updated 1/29/21