Support Legislation that Would Reform the Tort System

Background:

• The growing threat of frivolous lawsuits that are filed almost everyday threatens economic growth. Many companies when faced with the threat of a lawsuit end up settling out of court to avoid the expense, uncertain time frame, and possibly negative press that comes with going to court to fight a claim, no matter the basis of the suit. This harms business in various ways, in particular it diverts needed capital from company growth and therefore limits the job creation such a company could promote if they did not have to spend money on a trial or settlement.

AGC Message:

• Reform of the Court System Will Benefit Those With Legitimate Claims. The overflow of frivolous suits clogs up the legal system and prevents not only a speedy access to trial, but also minimizes those cases that have a legitimate claim to the process.
• Reform the Court System to Work Fairly and Efficiently for Both Plaintiffs and Defendants. Improvements are needed to make sure the court system works fairly and efficiently for both plaintiffs and defendants. Passage of legislation addressing asbestos litigation reform and medical malpractice reform will begin to set the trend for increased overall tort reform.
• Tort Reform Will Help Our Economy. The economy of our country will become stagnant, as business is unwilling and unable to grow due to either the threat of lawsuits or an actual lawsuit.