According to a recent report conducted by the American Tort Reform Association, New York’s legal system is bloated, wasteful, and among the worst in the country.
And it’s costing taxpayers and companies a whopping $89 billion a year in excessive litigation expenses.
“The City’s courts are a playground for fraudsters and opportunistic trial lawyers, while honest New Yorkers foot the bill,” said ATRA President Tiger Joyce.
From The New York Post:
As a result, the Big Apple ranks No. 2 on the group’s list of Top 10 worst judicial hellholes in the country, with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and Pennsylvania Supreme Court tied for first.
The tort reform report cites a study conducted by the economic consultancy the Perryman Group last year to estimate the economic impact of excessive litigation. In New York, the group estimates, businesses spent a massive $88.6 billion dealing with frivolous lawsuits.
ATRA points to several key policies it says are especially responsible for driving up costs — including the state’s scaffold law, which holds construction companies entirely liable for injuries on work sites, even if an employee was negligent.
“The state’s liability environment and lawsuit-friendly policies drive up costs and are a major factor driving businesses and residents to greener pastures in other states,” said Ashley Ranslow, the New York State director for the small business advocacy group National Federation of Independent Business.
“Lawsuit abuse isn’t just a courtroom problem – widespread fraud is an economic and social crisis that costs jobs, drives up prices, and exploits vulnerable communities,” said Tom Stebbins, executive director of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York.
“Lawmakers must step up by passing stricter laws to punish staged car and construction site accidents and by increasing transparency around third-party funding of lawsuits,” Stebbins wrote in a statement.
More over at The New York Post:
NY’s bogus legal costs hit a staggering $89B, as NYC ranked second worst ‘judicial hellhole’ in US: report https://t.co/JGCJBPnpCk pic.twitter.com/9JMGOr1jrP
— New York Post (@nypost) December 12, 2024
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