Need for Reform

The U.S. Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform recently released the 2012 Legal Climate Report, which ranks the states' tort liability systems. For the third year in a row, Louisiana ranks 49th among all 50 states in the fairness of its litigation environment. The entire report can be read here.

In its rating of key elements of tort liability systems, the Institute for Legal Reform ranked Louisiana:

47th in having and enforcing meaningful venue requirements
49th in overall treatment of tort and contract litigation
49th in treatment of class action suits
48th in damages
50th in timeliness of summary judgment or dismissal
46th in scientific and technical evidence
49th in judges' impartiality
48th in judges' competence
48th in juries' fairness

According to the Chamber's press release, "The significance of a state's legal climate on business expansion decisions has steadily increased over the last five years. Seven out of ten survey respondents say a state's lawsuit environment is likely to impact important business decisions at their company, such as where to locate or expand their businesses, a 13 percent increase from survey results just five years ago."

Louisiana small business owner, Mike Carter, knows first-hand the negative impact frivilous lawsuits have on business operations. He is facing more than 100 asbestos lawsuits from 2,000 plaintiffs and he does not even manufacturer asbestos. Click here to read his story.