Issues Resource Center
Use this Resource Center to explore comprehensive information on civil justice reform issues.
States Resource Center
Learn more about the status of lawsuit abuse and civil justice reform issues in each state.
Congress Should Investigate Trial Lawyer Crimes
Statement of ILR President Lisa Rickard on Leader Boehner and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Smith’s call for the House of Representatives to investigate recent abuses by the plaintiffs’ trial bar:
“While the indictments and guilty pleas of well-known trial lawyers have made front page news, Congress has until now ignored this national scandal. We fully support Leader Boehner and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Smith’s call for a Congressional investigation into the abusive and fraudulent practices of some of America’s most powerful plaintiffs’ lawyers..."
Read Boehner and Smith's letter calling for an investigation (PDF)
Lawsuit Climate 2008: Where Does Your State Rank?
ILR's annual study ranks the legal fairness of each of the 50 states.
Download Full Harris Survey (PDF)
Best States |
Worst States |
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Rank |
Rank |
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1 |
50 |
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2 |
49 |
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3 |
48 |
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4 |
47 |
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5 |
46 |
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Lawsuit Climate 2008 Press Conference
At a recent press conference in Baton Rouge, ILR released Lawsuit Climate 2008: Ranking the States. Speakers included Tom Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Maura Donahue, president of DonahueFavret Contractors in Louisiana; and David Krane, Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Research at Harris Interactive.
Photos of the press conference
Legal Reform is a Constant Process, Not a One-Time Event
By Lisa Rickard
Since we began our state ranking in 2002, several states have enacted “tort reform” of various types and to varying degrees of success. The truth is, enacting legal reforms is only the first step. The legal climate is only as good as the willingness of the state’s judiciary to interpret the reforms and to follow them as enacted.
Latest Headlines
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Bush administration rules limit consumer lawsuits
Chicago Sun-Times | May 14, 2008 -
Lloyd's Reassures on Subprime Claims
(sub. req.)
Wall Street Journal | May 14, 2008 -
The Bribe (pdf)
New Yorker | May 13, 2008
ILR in the News
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Protecting clean energy innovators
Boston Globe -
Opinions mixed three years after tort reform
Springfield Business Journal
