Posted by
John R. LaPlante on Saturday, August 19, 2006 9:16:51 AM
While legal action can be a way of bringing justice, it has significant costs, especially in the form of lawsuit abuse. In 2004, lawsuits cost the U.S. economy $886 per person.
Fortunately, the Alabama Policy Institute, along with some other members of the State Policy Network, is doing something about lawsuit abuse. Alabamians know something about litigation. In 2003, a jury rendered a verdict that included an award that was larger than the top 100 verdicts in the country … combined.
Last year, the state of Alabama enacted the Jury Patriotism Act, something that the Institute had long recommended. Among other things, the Act makes it harder for professionals to avoid jury duty, which could lead to better-reasoned jury decisions. It also encourages shorter trials, which provides cost savings.
In The Unfinished Business of Tort Reform (PDF), Michael Ciamarra and Matt McDonald talk about the Jury Patriotism Act, and make many other recommendations about reforming lawsuit abuse in Alabama. They present ten model bills that can make the civil litigation system more effective and less prone to abuse.
The bills cover topics such as manufacturer’s liability, contributory negligence, and asbestos-related liability.
Among the benefits to taking these steps: over 10,000 new jobs in Alabama.