The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) this week urged lawmakers to support House Bill 105, legislation aimed at bringing greater transparency to third-party litigation funding. OMA Legal Counsel Anne Marie Sferra provided proponent testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, warning that commercial litigation funding can allow outside financial interests to quietly influence lawsuits against businesses.

While defendants have long been required to disclose whether insurance may cover a settlement or judgment, plaintiffs can proceed without disclosing whether someone else has a financial stake in the case. House Bill 105 would help change that by requiring commercial litigation financiers to register with the attorney general, increasing transparency around financing agreements and barring foreign-domiciled commercial litigation financiers from operating in Ohio.

“Ohio manufacturers deserve a civil justice system that is fair, transparent and not quietly influenced by outside financial interests,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of advocacy and energy services. “House Bill 105 is a commonsense step to shine light on third-party litigation funding, protect proprietary business information and guard against lawsuit abuse.”

OMA supports the bill as part of its ongoing work to protect manufacturers from litigation practices that drive up costs, create uncertainty and weaken Ohio’s business climate. 5/20/2026