ATRA'S NEW BALLPARK BILLBOARD CONDEMNS 'LAWSUITS OUTTA LEFTFIELD'

Connects Lawsuit Abuse to Illinois' Economic Woes

Washington, DC, May 25, 2007 -- As the latest in its series of billboards that remind residents of "Judicial Hellholes" that they pay an economic price for lawsuit abuse, the American Tort Reform Association has posted a baseball-themed message along the leftfield wall of the Cook County, Illinois, ballpark that is home to the Schaumburg Flyers, an independent minor league team playing in the Northern League.

The family-friendly Flyers boast a sizeable suburban Chicago fan base and will be featured in an upcoming reality TV series on a major cable network, so ATRA's 8' x 24' sign is sure to get plenty of exposure throughout the season.

In its Judicial Hellholes 2006® report issued last December, ATRA cited six jurisdictions as America's worst for lawsuit abuse. "Illinois is home to three of those jurisdictions, including Cook, Madison and St. Clair counties. Cook County is the highest ranked of those three in our report," reported ATRA president Sherman "Tiger" Joyce.

"That's why ATRA has ‘gone to the wall' at Alexian Field," home of the Flyers, "to remind suburban Chicago baseball fans that as workers, consumers and taxpayers, they continue to foot the bill for the economy-sapping shenanigans of shameless personal injury lawyers," Joyce continued.

"Not coincidentally, as the volume of civil litigation in Cook County has increased," he explained, "Illinois' economy has suffered. While the national economy grew strongly out of the last recession, Illinois' economy expanded at an average annual rate that was nearly 40 percent slower."

In the same timeframe, Joyce added, "Illinois also lost good paying manufacturing jobs at a pace more rapid than that of the country as a whole. And while there are several additional factors that contribute to manufacturing job loss, the unavoidable truth is that many businesses large and small avoid problem-litigation jurisdictions.

"In any case, ATRA and its members wish the Flyers – one of our favorite small businesses – the best of luck this season," he concluded.

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The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to tort and liability reform through public education and the enactment of legislation. ATRA's membership includes non profits, small and large companies, as well as state and national trade, business, and professional associations.