Vince Leach is Arizona chamber’s Senator of the Year

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry on has named state Sen. Vince Leach its Senator of the Year for 2021.

The chamber specifically named Leach’s work on a Senate bill that protects employers, schools, religious organizations and healthcare workers from excessive civil litigation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Senator Leach this session once again burnished his credentials as one of the state Legislature’s strongest advocates for Arizona’s job creators,” said Danny Seiden, Arizona Chamber president and CEO, in a news release. “The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry thanks Senator Leach for his successful effort to ensure responsible businesses can get back to work without the threat of dubious litigation slowing our post-pandemic economic recovery. He’s also consistently supported wise fiscal policies that have helped make Arizona’s economy red-hot. Congratulations to Senator Leach for this much deserved honor.”

Leach worked with chamber members as well as other business organizations in crafting SB 1377.

“This legislation did not come together overnight. We had countless meetings making sure that the final product was the right fit for Arizona to protect all businesses from frivolous lawsuits,” Leach said in a statement. “I am both humbled and honored to be named Senator of the Year by this prestigious organization. This was the result of many people from across the state working together for the betterment of Arizona’s business community.”

With this bill becoming law, a plaintiff now has the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that a person or provider failed to act or acted with willful misconduct or gross negligence in order to win a civil suit. Arizona joins 25 other states that have passed similar legislation.