Leveling the playing field: Kentucky needs civil liability reform

by Greg Gibson - Ashland Daily Independent

For 23 seasons, I had the privilege of serving as an umpire in Major League Baseball. I was honored to partner with talented colleagues in calling a World Series, an All-Star Game, a no-hitter, and even a perfect game. In every stadium, on every pitch, our responsibility was the same: enforce the rules consistently and ensure a level playing field.

The integrity of the game depended on it.

Today, as the owner of a community insurance agency in my hometown of Ashland, I’m part of another talented team committed to protecting our neighbors. But I’ve learned that, unlike baseball, Kentucky’s civil legal system does not always operate on a level playing field.

A game cannot function without a consistent strike zone. Likewise, a strong Commonwealth cannot thrive under a civil justice system that is unpredictable and unbalanced. Kentucky’s litigation environment lags behind many other states. The result is uncertainty that drives up insurance premiums, increases health care costs, and creates risk for employers and small businesses trying to grow and create jobs.

That imbalance affects more than just courtrooms — it affects family budgets.

Senate Bill 195, introduced in the Kentucky General Assembly, offers a practical path forward. This bill will modernize our civil liability laws by requiring written notice before certain lawsuits are filed, clarifying how fault is allocated in injury cases, and establishing clearer procedures for medical malpractice and personal injury claims. It strengthens ethical guardrails and promotes consistency in how cases are evaluated and resolved.

Importantly, it does all of this without stripping anyone of their constitutional right to seek justice. This is not about denying anyone their day in court. It is about ensuring that the rules are fair, transparent, and applied consistently.

In my business, I often hear from small employers who worry that one lawsuit — regardless of merit — could threaten everything they’ve worked to build. Excessive litigation costs and legal uncertainty can jeopardize small businesses and stifle economic growth.

When the rules are unclear, everyone pays.

As an umpire, I knew that inconsistency yields frustration and undermines confidence in the game. The same principle applies to our legal system. Fairness requires balance. It requires clarity. And it requires rules that are applied evenly — not unpredictably.

Senate Bill 195 moves Kentucky toward a more stable, competitive, and fair civil justice environment. That benefits plaintiffs with legitimate claims, defendants entitled to due process, businesses seeking to invest, and families struggling with rising costs.

A strike zone that changes from inning to inning doesn’t serve the game. A legal system that lacks balance doesn’t serve the Commonwealth. Kentucky deserves better. Senate Bill 195 helps level the playing field — and that’s a reform worth supporting.

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Greg Gibson is the owner of Greg Gibson Insurance & Financial Services in Ashland, Kentucky. He previously served as a Major League Baseball umpire from 1997-2022.

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