|
|
|
email
Doug
September 15, 2008 |
|
Legal Reform
Conference 2008 The
US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform recently released their 2008
State Liability Systems Ranking Study, a report on a national sample of attorneys (in-house counsel or senior
corporate litigators) that explores how reasonable and balanced the tort
liability system is perceived to be by U.S. business. The 2008 ranking builds
on previous years’ work where each year all 50 states are ranked by
those familiar with the litigation environment in that state. Once again, Illinois’ Madison County and Cook County put
Illinois in the top five worst judicial environments in the country. Cook
County is number two, second only to Los Angeles. While the overall trend is
improving, Illinois remains the home of two counties repeatedly dubbed
“judicial hellholes” by the American Tort Reform Association for their
perceived unfair, unreasonable and very plaintiff friendly environments. Over
the years, personal injury lawyers have successfully turned our state’s
courts into their own personal playground and helped Illinois earn its costly
status as the “Lawsuit Abuse Capital of the Midwest.” Directorship
magazine ranked Illinois at the very bottom in its annual boardroom guide to
the litigation climates in all 50 states, and the Pacific Research
Institute’s 2008 Tort Liability Index Report ranks Illinois 47th
in the country for tort costs and 46th in the nation for tort
laws. Judicial
reform in Illinois is underway largely because coziness between plaintiffs’
lawyers and the judiciary in certain critical counties and jurisdictions is
being exposed and challenged. Voters and employers must continue to support
and engage in efforts to demand balance be restored to Illinois’ courts. On
Tuesday, October 21, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce will host Legal
Reform Conference 2008 at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza from 8:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This is the most important legal reform
conference in Illinois this year. We have a
powerful line-up of speakers to educate you on your risks and what you can do
to effectively join the fight against lawsuit abuse. This
informative event is being sponsored by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce,
American Justice Partnership, Illinois Civil Justice League, American Tort
Reform Association, US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, and Illinois
Lawsuit Abuse Watch. Please consider this your personal invitation to join us in
Chicago on October 21. Read
more and register. |
|
Message from the President - Copyright © 2008 The Illinois
Chamber of Commerce |