VPA 1
VPA 1 :
The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997. [Many members of Congress believe that the possibility of litigation may lessen the likelihood of people to volunteer for public service. In response, they enacted the VPA.] The VPA makes available statutory immunity to increase the labor pool for voluntary entities. The VPA pre-empts state laws providing higher levels of liability for volunteers than gross negligence. States may opt out of the VPA. In addition to shelter from negligence lawsuits, punitive damages may not be awarded against a volunteer acting within the scope of his/her responsibilities to a non-profit organization, even when that volunteer is negligent or grossly negligent. The immunity does not attach to the volunteer's organization. Notably, the VPA does not exempt volunteers from liability for any harm caused while driving a motor vehicle
