LLAW PRESS ROOM

Louisiana has landed at No. 7 in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s (ATRF) 2022-2023 Judicial Hellholes report, ranking the most unjust local courts and state civil justice systems in the country. This marks the thirteenth year jurisdictions in Louisiana have been named in the report, with the state only improving by one spot from last year’s rankings.

New data shows lost jobs and revenue in state’s major metropolitan areas

Baton Rouge, LA — Prior to the start of the legislative session next week, Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW)  released data measuring the impact of excessive civil court costs on the state’s overall economy and in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Areas, specifically. These impacts were derived from the Economic Benefits of Tort Reform study conducted by The Perryman Group for Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse using extensive survey data, industry information and a variety of corroborative source material. The results are clear – Louisiana continues to lose jobs and revenue because of the state’s civil justice system.

Costs result in significant losses to Louisiana families, businesses, and tax rolls;

More than $2 billion in savings projected with additional legal reforms

Baton Rouge, LA — Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) today released the 2021 Impact of Tort Costs and the Potential Economic Benefits of Tort Reform, an assessment measuring the impact of excessive civil court costs on Louisiana’s economy. Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) commissioned John Dunham & Associates (JDA) to conduct analysis on these impacts and the potential economic benefits of tort reform in Louisiana.  

WASHINGTON – Louisiana ranks near the top of the nation’s Judicial Hellholes at No. 4 in 2019 because of the involvement of contingency-fee lawyers in parish coastal lawsuits, the legislature’s failure to address the high cost of auto insurance caused by lawsuit abuse, and judicial misconduct plaguing the state.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C.— Louisiana’s lawsuit climate ranks 49th—the second-worst in the nation—in a new national survey released today by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR). In the survey, New Orleans/Orleans Parish’s legal climate ranks as one of the ten worst local jurisdictions in the nation.

BATON ROUGE, LA (JULY 9, 2018 )— Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) has announced that Lana Sonnier Venable will become its next Executive Director. LLAW is a local non-partisan, nonprofit, citizen watchdog group dedicated to stopping lawsuit abuse that hurts Louisiana’s families and threatens local businesses and jobs.

BATON ROUGE, LA (Dec. 5, 2017)— Louisiana is still one of the nation’s worst Judicial Hellholes®, according to a new report released today by the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF). The state has been singled out for unbalanced courts and excessive litigation eight years in a row and ranked as the nation’s eighth-worst Judicial Hellhole this year.

BATON ROUGE, LA (Oct. 30, 2017) – Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch Executive Director Melissa Landry issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to revive the lawsuit filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East (SLFPA-E):

BATON ROUGE, LA (Oct. 30, 2017) – Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch Executive Director Melissa Landry issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to revive the lawsuit filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East (SLFPA-E):

Every October, Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch joins legal reform groups from across the country to promote a national dialogue about the devastating impact frivolous lawsuits have on our courts and our economy. The goal is to encourage citizens and lawmakers to take action to reform our legal system.

BATON ROUGE, LA (September 12, 2017)— Legal reform advocates from Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) and the Coalition for Common Sense (CCS) issued the following statements today in response to the release of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s 2017 Lawsuit Climate Survey, where Louisiana’s legal environment ranked 50th—the worst in the nation.

BATON ROUGE, LA— Gov. John Bel Edwards’ controversial push to hire his top campaign supporters to represent the state in lawsuits potentially worth billions of dollars earned Louisiana a spot on the American Tort Reform Foundation’s (ATRF) annual “Judicial Hellholes” list.

BATON ROUGE, LA (Jan. 29, 2016)— Local and national legal experts discussed key findings from a new report, “The Costs and Consequences of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (LUTPA),” at a roundtable event co-hosted today by the Coalition for Common Sense (CCS), Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) and the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA).

BATON ROUGE, LA (Dec. 17, 2015)— Louisiana courts are among the worst in the country, and they have been singled out for a lack of balance and excessive litigation. The Pelican State is the sixth-worst in the country for abusive lawsuits, according to the newly released Judicial Hellholes® report from the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA).

Wealthy personal injury lawyers spend millions on fancy cars and private jets. They also spent over $300,000 on these legislative candidates who they hope will help to advance their pro-lawsuit, job-killing agenda at the State Capitol next year. With polls opening in less than 24 hours, voters should keep in mind who the plaintiffs’ bar is supporting and why.

BATON ROUGE, LA (Oct. 15, 2015)—Republican gubernatorial candidates Jay Dardenne and David Vitter discussed challenges facing Louisiana’s civil justice system at a forum hosted by Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) and the Coalition for Common Sense (CCS) on Tuesday in Baton Rouge.

Trial lawyer-backed super PACs spending heavily in the 2015 governor’s race LAFAYETTE, LA (Sept. 29, 2015)—A Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) investigation into campaign contributions to elected officials reveals trial lawyers, as a whole, spent more than any other special interest group to steer elections across the state.

With a $1.6 billion state budget shortfall to address, there is no question that lawmakers are primarily focused on fiscal issues as the 2015 Louisiana Legislative Session starts out.

BATON ROUGE – Despite fierce criticism from lawmakers and legal reform groups in recent years, Louisiana Attorney General James “Buddy” Caldwell is continuing his questionable practice of hiring outside attorneys to pursue litigation on behalf of the state, primarily relying on well-connected law firms that have donated tens of thousands of dollars to his political campaign.