Liability

• 1How concerned are you that in the next few years, your business or you as the responsible person for the business might be sued in a liability case? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or not at all concerned?
• 1aWhich BEST describes the reason you are concerned about the possibility of a liability suit?
• 1bWhich BEST describes the reason you are not concerned about the possibility of a liability suit?
• 2Do you believe that the liability laws properly balance the interest of those who sue others and those who defend themselves in a liability suit?
• 2aWhich side does the law favor? Do you feel that way strongly or not strongly?
• 3A(time allocation compared to liability) Introducing new technologies or processes into your business
• 3B(time allocation compared to liability) Evaluating possible changes in employee wages or benefits
• 3C(time allocation compared to liability) Obtaining or repaying business loans
• 3D(time allocation compared to liability) Evaluating competitors
• 3E(time allocation compared to liability) Looking for ways to cut costs
• 4Within the last five years, has the business or you as the responsible person for the business been sued in a LIABILITY case?Top 100 question
• 4aHow many times in the last five years?
• 4bWho sued you? Was it a:?
• 4cWhat kind of liability suit was it?
• 4dWas it a so-called “class action” suit, i.e., a suit brought by several people together against you?
• 4eWere you the only business sued or were there other businesses also sued in the case?
• 4fDid the case go to court? Was it settled out of court? Or, is it still pending?
• 4f1Did you want to settle or did the insurance company push you into settling?
• 4gWere you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied with the outcome?
• 4hDid you have insurance to help cover the cost of the suit?
• 4h1Excluding any amount your insurance paid, what (was/has been) the total cost of the suit to you?
• 5Within the last five years, has anyone made a credible threat to bring a LIABILITY suit against the business or you as the person responsible for the business?Top 100 question
• 5aHow many times?
• 5bWho threatened you? Was it a:?
• 5cWhat kind of liability suit was threatened?
• 5dHow much has the threatened suit cost you out-of-pocket to this point?
• 6Within the last five years, have you as the person responsible for the business or the business filed a LIABILITY suit against another party?Top 100 question
• 7A(liability-related actions) Sought legal advice on how to protect yourself or your business from a liability suit
• 7B(liability-related actions) Changed operations, products, or services to limit your exposure to liability suits
• 7C(liability-related actions) Educated or talked to your employees about ways to avoid liability suits
• 7D(liability-related actions) Sought legal advice on how to bring a liability suit against a party
• 7E(liability-related actions) Withheld or failed to develop or market products or services to limit your exposure to liability suits
• 7F(liability-related actions) Talked to an insurance agent or broker about the adequacy of your liability coverage
• 8Within the last two years, has an insurance company providing you liability coverage of any kind stopped selling liability insurance?

Volume 2, Issue 2, 2002
ISSN 1534-8326

William J. Dennis, Jr.
NFIB Research Foundation