Jan Norman, the Orange County Register's small business reporter, reminds us just how important the upcoming November election really is in her blog titled, "Is California Lawsuit Heaven or Hell?" where she discusses a new report by the Pacific Research Institute. The report, the U.S. Tort Liability Index, found that California has dropped eight spots since its last release in 2008, and ranks dead lasat in state tort rules to contain costs and reduce lawsuit abuse, such as class-action reforms, caps on awards and product-liability charges.

Sadly, the stats come as no surprise, as year after year our elected officials fail to pass bills that would bring much-needed fairness to our legal system. Before voting this election cycle, ask your candidates where they stand on civil justice reform. Tell them that stopping lawsuit abuse needs to be a top priority. Take time to ask if our lawmakers will be bold enough to pass reforms that protect all Californians from abusive lawsuits. The report found that just one tort reform would create 141,000 jobs. With more than 161,000 unempoyed in Orange County alone, it is critical that we pass laws that will create more jobs, not more lawsuits. If California legislators won’t reform the civil justice system, then it’s time for voters to change the current legislators for those who will!