Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch recognizes Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week
Baton Rouge, La. – Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week is observed annually the first full week in October by Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW), the Louisiana Legal Reform Coalition (LLRC) and other civil justice reform organizations across the country. This grassroots effort is aimed at informing citizens about the significant costs and economic consequences of lawsuit abuse.
Louisianans deserve lasting, comprehensive reforms that promote fairness and expand opportunity for all residents. Our culture of encouraging ‘jackpot justice’ sends the wrong message to investors and job creators, reinforcing Louisiana’s long-held reputation as one of the nation’s worst places to do business.
The impacts of lawsuit abuse go well beyond a single business or issue. A fair and balanced civil justice system is good public policy, leading to a more stable, predictable business environment and further aligning Louisiana with other states. Adopting measures that improve transparency across the system will encourage business growth, helping retain our best and brightest citizens and attract new talent to the state.
While motivated legislators continue attempting to pass meaningful reforms, we are disappointed that more has not been accomplished. Unfortunately, attempts at passing much-needed reform legislation were soundly thwarted during the legislative session. Among the changes still needed in Louisiana are increased transparency in medical damages, litigation financing and other improvements to address the overall litigious culture of the state. The constant inundation of messages to our citizens to ‘sue, sue, sue’ makes it unlikely that this will change without concerted leadership in both the executive and legislative branches.
Louisiana has consistently been recognized as having one of the worst civil justice climates in the country. Last year alone, every Louisiana resident paid more than $1,100 in a hidden ‘lawsuit tax,’ as the often unseen costs of lawsuit abuse are passed down to all Louisianans through higher prices for goods and services. An estimated 45,000 job losses were also attributed to these abuses, up from 5,000 job losses the year prior.
Louisiana has consistently made an appearance on the American Tort Reform Foundation’s Judicial Hellholes® list, as one of the worst civil justice climates in the country, since the rankings began in 2017. This year, the longstanding coastal lawsuits came in at no. four this year based on the eye-popping $744 million ‘nuclear verdict’ rendered against Chevron last year.
All Louisianans continue to pay the price when our legal system is abused. The goal of Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week is to shine a light on abusive lawsuits and questionable legal practices – and to inform hardworking citizens of the sometimes hidden costs of these abuses. It is up to all Louisianans to demand an end lawsuit abuse and ensure fairness and balance in our civil justice system.
