Published: 12-19-08
State no longer a “judicial hellhole” but remains on “watch list”. Legal reform creates jobs.
Medical liability & other legal reform credited
AUSTIN TX — For the first time since 2002 Texas is not among the nation’s worst civil court jurisdictions according to the American Tort Reform Foundation’s seventh annual Judicial Hellholes® report released today. Last year the state’s Rio Grande Valley and Gulf Coast were ranked second among the nation’s worst jurisdictions for litigation abuses runaway jury verdicts and unpredictable application of the law.
“Getting off the judicial ‘hellholes’ list is an important milestone in Texas legal reform” said George S. Christian president of the Texas Civil Justice League. “It’s further proof that Texas is no longer the ‘world’s courtroom’ and that curtailing lawsuit abuse improves access to health care the state’s business climate and economic competitiveness.”
Legal reform has long been a factor in state economic growth. Businesses thrive where balanced and fair legal and regulatory environments are a priority. Despite the economic downturn Texas continues to outpace the nation in business productivity and employment.
“All Texas business has ever wanted is a level playing field at the courthouse” said Robert L. Looney president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association and chairman of the Texas Civil Justice League. “Since 1986 the Texas Civil Justice League and its members have fought for balance and fairness that spurs economic growth. The results are evident.”
This year the Judicial Hellholes® report specifically cites “no-nonsense appellate courts” and medical liability reform for the state’s improved ranking. Texas’s success in dealing with a 2003 medical liability crisis is highlighted as a “point of light” best practice for states trying to maintain fair and predictable legal climates.
“Thanks to landmark medical liability reform Texans have better access to healthcare” said Louis J. Goodman Ph.D. CEO of the Texas Medical Association and a Texas Civil Justice League executive committee member. “Insurance premiums have steadily decreased resulting in record numbers of doctors applying for licenses to practice in Texas and increasing specialty care in underserved areas of the state.”
The report’s findings are based on surveys of American Tort Reform Association members and individual interviews about litigation in “judicial hellholes” verified through independent research of media accounts academic and public policy studies court dockets judicial branch statistics and other publicly available information.
Founded in 1986 the Texas Civil Justice League was the state’s first business liability and legal reform coalition and is a founding state partner of the American Tort Reform Association.
NOTE: The American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2008–09 Judicial Hellholes® is available at www.atra.org.
