Ranked #5 by American Tort Reform Association
NFIB is working hard to improve the Pennsylvania civil justice system in the state legislature and the courts. Some small-business owners pay thousands of dollars to settle a lawsuit, even if they think they could prevail in court. The risk of losing your business with a jury or judge sympathetic to the plaintiff seems too much of a risk.
Two Pennsylvania courts have the dubious distinction of being named in the latest American Tort Reform Association’s Judicial Hellholes report. The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas ranks as the #5 “hellhole” in the nation. That court has long been the place plaintiff’s lawyers from around the country go to file product liability cases and mass torts. It’s also a popular place to file asbestos lawsuits. Our state office has fielded calls from small business members caught up in asbestos and product liability cases. Even though these small businesses weren’t involved in the manufacturing of the product, they were named in a suit because they were part of the supply chain.
The Judicial Hellholes report has also put the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on its watchlist after its new panel of judges ruled on workers’ compensation, asbestos litigation, and medical liability. You can read details of the American Tort Reform Association report by CLICKING HERE.
NFIB Pennsylvania is part of the newly formed Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform. That organization is working to bring fairness to the civil system and fight against lawsuit abuse.
