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Key leaders and publications across Illinois and America are speaking out on Legal Reform!
From Illinois
"Illinois has one of the worst climates in the nation for the fair handling of civil lawsuits, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce proclaimed...It's a distinction that should come as no surprise--and a distinction Illinois should not want"
Chicago Tribune editorial, March 11, 2004
"We have a litigation explosion in Illinois that is hurting consumers and employers alike. Costs are rising, jobs are being lost, and doctors are fleeing the state -- all because of frivolous lawsuits that are lining the pockets of predatory trial lawyers. Illinois needs legal reform now."
Doug Whitley President and CEO Illinois Chamber of Commerce
From a Recent Survey in Illinois:
"Would you favor or oppose the state legislature changing the current lawsuit system to tighten the rules on where a lawsuit can be filed. So that the case can only be heard in the county where the defendant lives, a company is located or where an injury occurs?" 72% Favor; 23% Oppose
Illinois Statewide Survey Public Opinion Strategies August 2 - 4, 2005
"But as this legislation is intended to preserve and protect access to health care, there are other compelling arguments for additional civil justice reforms that will help Illinois regain its rightful place as one of America's foremost commercial, agricultural and manufacturing states."
Ed Murnane President, Illinois Civil Justice League
"I feel good. But more needs to be done... venue reform, worker's comp."
"About 25% of all asbestos cases nationwide in which the plaintiff suffers from mesothelioma are filed in Madison County. How is it that one small county in one state is home to one-quarter of all mesothelioma cases filed in the United States? Very few, if any, of the mesothelioma cases have any connection to either Madison County or Illinois."
Former U.S. Attorney General Griffin Bell Speech at Washington University Law School April 14, 2003
Click Here to read more about what other leaders are saying about Legal Reform.
From Across the Country
"Another threat to economic security is junk lawsuits. Frivolous lawsuits help drive up the total costs of America's tort system to more than $240 billion a year. That's a burden far greater than any other major industrialized nation, by the way. In order to remain competitive, in order to keep jobs here in America, in order to make sure that people can make a decent living, we got to do something about these junk lawsuits.
...These junk lawsuits cost people jobs and they raise your prices... Legal reform is a necessary part of keeping this economy going."
President George W. Bush June 22, 2005
"This measure is a common-sense measure. It will ensure that people have a right to sue when harmed, and at the same time the bill will put an end to suits that leave consumers with pennies and small businesses with needless legal bills. This is a carefully crafted measure that will benefit our economy and ensure some basic fairness when it comes to class-action lawsuits."
U.S. Senator Christoper Dodd (CT) February 10, 2005 At the Senate passage of Class Action Reform Legislation
Click Here to read more about what other leaders are saying about Legal Reform.
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