2023-24 Judicial Hellholes Report: LLAW Statement
December 5, 2023 (Baton Rouge, LA) – Louisiana has again been named the seventh-worst civil justice jurisdiction in the U.S. in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s (ATRF) 2023-24 Judicial Hellholes Report®, released earlier today. This annual report ranks the most unjust local courts and state civil justice systems in the country. This marks the fourteenth year Louisiana has been named in the report and the second year in a row the state has claimed the number seven spot.
From statewide economic and job losses and ongoing coastal lawsuits to insurance lawsuit schemes targeting hurricane victims and the state’s vital trucking industry, Louisiana has again earned its moniker as a Judicial Hellhole®. For example, following the 2023 legislative session, current Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed important transparency legislation passed by the full legislature. This legislation would have required mandatory disclosure of litigation financing arrangements, with funders required to disclose any litigation financing contracts or agreements in which individuals, other than legal representatives, would have received or had a right to receive compensation contingent on the proceeds of the civil action by settlement or judgment. This disclosure requirement would have been a significant and much-needed step in addressing the extent of control or influence these funders have in critical litigation decisions.
These kinds of abuses cost every single Louisianian, extracting an annual "tort tax" of more than $1,100 per resident. Due to these costs associated with lawsuit abuse, nearly 50,000 jobs are lost annually, affecting the ability of Louisiana residents to afford basic essentials and impacting the state’s ability to attract and grow businesses. (Source:2023 Economic Benefits of Tort Reform)
Lawsuit abuse harms hardworking Louisianans by clogging our court system with meritless and frivolous cases, increasing the costs of goods and services while driving up insurance costs and driving away jobs. Louisiana can – and must – do better.
LLAW looks forward to working with our newly elected state leaders to change Louisiana’s long-known culture of lawsuit abuse. By enacting meaningful reforms, including improving transparency in litigation funding, businesses will be better positioned to flourish, generating quality jobs and improving the bottom line for all hardworking residents.
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About Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch
Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) is a high-impact watchdog group with nearly 20,000 supporters across the state dedicated to fixing Louisiana’s broken legal system through transparency, accountability
Contact:
Lana Venable, Executive Director
225.328.8826
