Assembly Democrats have eliminated a controversial provision from the 2009-11 budget plan that would have expanded liability in civil damage cases.

The decision was reached behind closed doors and announced by Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan's office.

Business groups had lobbied heavily against the provision, including a petition with more than 2,100 signatures delivered to the Capitol on Wednesday by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

The provision would have allowed a business or individual who is at least 20 percent responsible for an accident to be held liable for all the damages in a lawsuit. Wednesday's change maintains the current standard, under which only those found to be at least 51 percent responsible can be held liable for all damages.

Gov. Jim Doyle originally proposed reducing that threshold to 1 percent, and the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee increased it to 20 percent.

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