Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch Recognizes Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Oct. 5, 2022

Baton Rouge, La. – Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week is observed annually the first week in October by Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) and other civil justice reform organizations across the country. This grassroots effort is aimed at informing citizens about the costs and consequences of lawsuit abuse. All Louisianans can be part of the solution by serving on a jury when called, by understanding their legal rights, and by making smart choices when hiring a lawyer or considering filing a lawsuit.

“While Louisiana has implemented legislative lawsuit reform measures and judicial transparency improvements, more opportunity lies ahead as we look to statewide elections next year,” said LLAW Executive Director Lana Venable. “Louisiana voters can play an active role in improving our civil justice system by supporting candidates who advocate for legal reform. Important issues continuing to face the state include coastal lawsuits, auto insurance scams, and judicial misconduct,” she said.
The U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform ranked Louisiana’s legal climate the second worst in the nation in its most recent Lawsuit Climate Survey, and the American Tort Reform Foundation ranked Louisiana the fifth-worst Judicial Hellhole in the U.S. in its 2021-22 report.

Earlier this year, LLAW released the Economic Benefits of Tort Reform study conducted by The Perryman Group for Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, finding that Louisiana continues to lose jobs and revenue because of the state’s civil justice system. Excessive tort litigation in Louisiana resulted in annual average direct costs of more than $3.2 billion, state gross product losses of nearly $4.7 billion and more than 46,000 lost jobs. Additionally, state government losses totaled nearly $244 million, with local governments losing more than $203 million on average, annually.

As these statistics show, all Louisianans pay the price when the state’s 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 lawsuit abuse. It is up to all Louisianans to do their part to help end lawsuit abuse and ensure fairness and balance in our civil justice system.