Illinois Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (IL-CALA) Executive Director Phil Melin called on the Illinois Legislature to make fixes to the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) when it returns to Springfield later this month.

The recent surge in nuclear verdicts, defined as jury awards exceeding $10 million, has sent shockwaves through Illinois’ legal landscape. A study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that Illinois ranked sixth among states for the number of nuclear verdicts in personal injury and wrongful death cases, with Cook County Circuit Court hosting the majority of these cases. While the intention behind such verdicts may be to provide justice to victims, the repercussions are increasingly detrimental.

Illinois is known for its vibrant culture, diverse communities, and thriving businesses. However, there’s a hidden cost that every resident of the Chicago metropolitan region bears: the “tort tax.” A recent study commissioned by the Illinois Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (ICALA) has revealed that each person in the Chicago metropolitan region pays a substantial annual “tort tax” of $2,321. This tax directly results from the state’s problematic legal landscape, which drives up costs for everyone.

Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) was enacted with good intentions – to safeguard individuals’ biometric privacy, including fingerprints and eye scans. The protection of biometric data is crucial in an increasingly digital world, but the current state of BIPA raises concerns. Thousands of small businesses that utilize biometric technology are facing lawsuits under this law, with the most prominent case being White Castle, which potentially faces a staggering $17 billion in exposure.

Victor Gomez, Executive Director of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CA CALA), sits down with California Insider to expose the abuse of California laws by trial attorneys to target small businesses with frivolous lawsuits. Gomez reveals how trial attorneys exploit minor errors by small businesses to rake in cash but ultimately hurt the communities the laws are supposed to protect.

CALA Illinois Executive Director Phil Melin was featured on WTTW, Chicago Public Television concerning Illinois Trial Association legislation that would impose new liabilities on rideshare companies.

Illinois Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA-IL) released a report that highlights the hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions that the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ILTA) has made to the sponsors of the Transportation Network Providers Act.

Today, Florida Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse commends the Florida Legislature for passing landmark civil justice reform, building off an already successful December special session.

IL CALA Executive Director Phil Melin joined Bishop On Air to discuss the necessity for critical BIPA reform in Illinois.