New Rule 702 Helps Judges Keep Bad Science Out Of Court

Judges’ commitment to rigorous policing of science is paramount in safeguarding the integrity of the legal system.

A Call to Halt the Onslaught of Litigation Tourism

This isn’t just about legal technicalities; it’s about New Yorkers’ livelihoods and ability to make ends meet.

Philadelphia’s Courts Continue to be ‘Judicial Hellholes’

Plaintiff-friendly courts tilt the scales of justice at will.

Why LA County’s Talc Litigation Misses the Mark

LA County’s talc litigation represents a colossal waste of taxpayer-funded time as public lawyers collaborate with private plaintiffs’ attorneys, employing outrageous tactics that, in all likelihood, will not succeed for most.

Climate Lawsuits Don’t Belong In State Courts

By maintaining the clear distinction between the judiciary and policymaking, the court can help us navigate this critical issue with prudence and responsibility, safeguarding a sustainable future for all.

Georgia Legislature Needs to Address Lawsuit Abuses

Together, let’s forge a legal landscape that makes equitable access to justice a living reality for all Georgians.

Private Attorneys Hired by State Should Not Reap a Windfall at Taxpayers’ Expense

This is an opportunity to reassess the practices and regulations surrounding private-attorney contracting and to enact reforms that promote fairness, transparency and value for taxpayer dollars.

Efficiency in Justice: Why Bankruptcy is the Best Path Forward for Talc Claims

Resolution of these claims must unequivocally prioritize claimants’ best interests – lawyers’ financial interests must never take priority over the integrity and fundamental fairness of these proceedings.

Time to close Philadelphia’s Mass Tort Complex and put an end to litigation tourism

Let us close the doors of the mass tort complex and open the doors to a fairer, more balanced future.

What happened to AG’s promise to use in-house counsel for large lawsuits?

It’s time to end the cycle of endless litigation and outrageous attorney fees

More Work Remains on Tort Reform

This letter-to-the-editor was originally published by The Herald-Dispatch in Huntington, WV. West Virginia was a mainstay on the American Tort Reform Foundation’s “Judicial Hellholes®” list for nearly 20 years, finally […]

Fla.’s Legal Reform Package Makes It a Judicial Hellholes Point of Light

These strong but fair laws will solidify Florida as a model of a forward-looking state with a judicial system that is transparent, fair and accountable for all.

ATRA President Tiger Joyce on WFLA-FM Tallahassee

ATRA President Tiger Joyce discusses Florida’s 2023 legal reform successes with Preston Scott on WFLA-FM Tallahassee.

Transparency in Tort Reform

This letter-to-the-editor was originally published by the Tampa Bay Times in response to their March 13, 2023 article “Florida lawmakers want to help insurance companies by limiting lawsuits.“ The “tort […]

The 3rd Circuit’s bankruptcy gift to the trial bar

Our civil justice system is intended to resolve issues among parties & provide clarity on the law. But in this situation, the 3rd Circuit failed to do either.

A Time for Choosing at the National Association of Attorneys General

This op-ed was originally published by Real Clear Policy. There’s a growing chorus of criticism against the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) for the organization’s perceived political bias and […]

Lawyers Win Big From J&J Bankruptcy Decision

Over 40,000 claimants have been relegated to an overburdened and inefficient civil justice system.

Trial lawyers target agriculture products in ‘Judicial Hellholes’

This op-ed was originally published by Agri-Pulse. Mass tort litigation has become a multi-billion-dollar industry for trial lawyers over the past several decades as they’ve targeted everything from tobacco and […]

Florida’s Legislators Should Prioritize Transparency

This op-ed was originally published by InsideSources. After a much-anticipated election and a successful special session that took steps to address Florida’s property insurance crisis, the state’s new legislative leaders […]

Monsanto’s triumph over junk science

Defense attorneys turn the tables by exposing massive conflicts of interest

The nation’s oldest attorney general organization is broken — here is how to fix it

This op-ed was originally published by the Washington Examiner. When the National Association of Attorneys General was founded in 1907, its goal was to support the top law enforcement officer […]

When Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Mislead the Public

Massive television ad buys and public relations campaigns that peddle misinformation taint public’s preconceptions, while judges fail to restrict falsehoods in their courtrooms.

Third Circuit Can Uphold Reasonable Use of ‘Texas-Two-Step’ Law

This op-ed was originally published by Real Clear Policy. Historically, courts have respected the view that filing for bankruptcy is a well-recognized way for a business to respond when the […]

Flint civil trial shows consequences of lawsuit abuse

This op-ed was originally published by the Detroit News. In a surprising development for those who followed the case for the past seven months, the jury in the latest Flint […]

The $280 Million Attorneys General Fund

A group of state AGs shouldn’t be a litigation finance shop for the tort bar and progressive causes.

Tennessee’s opioid crisis requires legislative changes, not more lawsuits

State Attorney General Herbert Slatery shouldn’t be able to hire outside counsel to pursue his litigation against Walgreens without disclosing any of the contract details to the state’s taxpayers.

AG Group Is Turning Civil Justice System Into a For-Profit Business

This op-ed was originally published by Inside Sources. A disturbing trend continues to infiltrate courtrooms across the country where third-party groups — including Wall Street hedge funds, institutional investors and private […]

Meritless Climate Change Cases, Driven by Plaintiffs’ Bar, Continue to Work Their Way through California Courts

Litigation is not a solution to address the broadest public policy challenges, and in the end, it is the lawyers who end up with a big payday while victims and communities in need of aid often are no nearer to resolution.

California Class-Action Lawyers Now Targeting Life Insurance Industry

This op-ed was originally published by the Times of San Diego. After a brief two-year hiatus, the “Golden State” once again reclaimed the top spot in the latest Judicial Hellholes list in December 2021. […]

Latest Flint Water Trial Unlikely to Result in Help for Victims

This op-ed was originally published by Inside Sources. After the multi-million-dollar Flint Water Settlement, lawyers have their sights set on new targets. A trial in an eastern Michigan federal court seeks […]

Trial Lawyers Just Rewrote Centuries-old Contract Law

This op-ed was originally published by the Washington Examiner. Last month, an exclusive organization of judges, law professors, and lawyers called the American Law Institute spent a weekend in the nation’s […]

ALI Oversteps With Expansive Restatement Of Contract Law

This op-ed was originally published by Law360. Once considered a scholarly organization that was safely above the fray in broader policy disputes, the American Law Institute has become an advocacy group, […]

National Attorneys General Organization Has Turned Into a Factory for Shady Litigation

This op-ed was originally published by the Washington Examiner. The National Association of Attorneys General recently came under scrutiny for its funding sources. Outside of membership dues paid by state attorneys […]

Elected Officials — Not Lawyers Out for a Buck — Are Responsible for Fixing the Opioid Crisis

Floridians and all Americans want the scourge of opioids to be addressed. Responsibility for doing so lies with the people we elect to represent us, not with lawyers motivated by a potential payout.

Liability-lawsuit Expansion Bill Helps No One Except Lawyers

This op-ed was originally published by the Orlando Sentinel. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are following a developing national trend by creating new bases for litigation through private rights […]

Profit-Driven Lawyers Deter Comprehensive Solutions for Opioid Crisis

Lawyers who are driven by potential winnings and settlements threaten to frustrate efforts to resolve litigation over the opioid epidemic, lessening the likelihood of achieving a meaningful resolution

Conservatives for Abusive Lawsuits

Lawmakers shouldn’t make it easier for employees to sue over vaccine mandates.

Congress Must Prioritize National Interest over Lawyers’ Profit Motives

Congress must prioritize national interests over the profit motives of plaintiffs’ lawyers and address the real issue driving the bankruptcy process.

In War On Arbitration, Consumers And Companies Both Lose

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes how companies that end arbitration face the risk of consumer class actions, in the face of plaintiffs firms ramping up mass arbitration proceedings.

New Law Could Mean Trial Lawyers Peeping Your Taxes — Then Suing You

The New York trial bar may get yet another gift from the state lawmakers seemingly tied around their finger.

SCOTUS Should Affirm Federal Law Supremacy With FDA Authority Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has a chance to rein in state court rulings that impose liability on pharmaceutical companies that go beyond, and even contradict, the federal regulatory process of the FDA, according to Tiger Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association. He explains why it is imperative the high court review a case involving Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Minnesotans Deserve Transparency from AG Ellison

ATRA President Tiger Joyce takes a look at Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s lawsuit claiming oil companies “deceived Minnesotans about climate change.”

Garland Should Oppose Biden Effort to Reinstate Controversial ‘Slush Funds’ Practice

Writing for The Hill, ATRA President Tiger Joyce discusses the Biden administration’s plans to allow a settlement slush fund and issues the practice has caused at the state level.

With This Missouri Case, the Supreme Court Could Curb Activist State Judiciaries

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about issues with a landmark talc case in Missouri and how the U.S. Supreme Court can step in.

Opinion: Nessel Shouldn’t Cater to Trial Lawyers

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel would needlessly create opportunities for entrepreneurial trial lawyers to pursue those that drive Michigan’s economy, ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes.

Hold On to Your Pocketbooks If Interest Goes Up On Civil Lawsuits

Excessive litigation costs Illinois businesses more than $18.9 billion annually, write ATRA President Tiger Joyce and John Pastuovic for the Chicago Sun Times.

Plaintiffs firms spent more than $34 million on COVID-19 ads, tort reform group says

Caroline Spiezio for Reuters reports on ATRA’s February 2021 legal services advertising report.

Law Firms Are Abusing California Lemon Law Fee Provision

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about a worrisome trend involving California “lemon law” suits.

Philadelphia Courts Ranked No. 1 Judicial Hellhole In the Nation

The Keystone State’s climate of lawsuit abuse harms Pennsylvanians by clogging the court system, driving away jobs and driving up insurance costs for consumers, ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes in a letter for the Patriot-News.

NYC’s Becoming an Even Nastier ‘Judicial Hellhole’

The New York Post Editorial Board writes about New York’s status as a “Judicial Hellhole.”

Courts in ‘Judicial Hellholes’ Less Likely to Abide by SCOTUS Precedent

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes in this op-ed about a growing trend of state courts bucking SCOTUS precedent when it comes to personal jurisdiction.

Philadelphia and New York City Top Sue-happy ‘Judicial Hellholes’

Coverage of the American Tort Reform Foundation’s Judicial Hellholes report by Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner.

COVID-19 Lawsuits Ravage Businesses

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about COVID-19 litigation and the need for liability protections, especially in states deemed “Judicial Hellholes.”

Trial Lawyers’ COVID-19 Lawsuits Are Definitely Not the Answer

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about the threat of lawsuits related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Missouri Supreme Court declines to review billion-dollar award against Johnson & Johnson baby powder

Juliette Fairley of the St. Louis Record reports on the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision not to review a $2 billion verdict.

Trial Lawyers Look to Profit Off Pandemic by Targeting Insurers

ATRA President Tiger Joyce penned an op-ed for Law360 on the surge of COVID-19-related lawsuits targeting the insurance industry.

Pa. Supreme Court Disregards SCOTUS Ruling

Nicholas Malfitano of the Pennsylvania Record writes about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling on jurisdiction in a lawsuit filed by an out-of-state resident.

ATRA Warns Against ‘New Species of Super Tort’ in Oklahoma Opioid Judgment

Amanda Bronstad with Law.com writes about the potential repercussions if the 2019 $465 million judgment against Johnson & Johnson stands.

Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week: This affects all of us

ATRA President Tiger Joyce spoke with Juliette Farley of the Southern California Record about Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week and business interruption lawsuits.

First Ga. COVID-19 Business Interruption Ruling

ATRA President Tiger Joyce spoke with Rosie Manins of the Law360 about business interruption lawsuits in the wake of COVID-19.

West Virginia AG Candidates Fail to Sign Transparency Oath

ATRA reports neither candidate for West Virginia Attorney General has signed its transparency oath, writes Chris Dickerson for the West Virginia Record.

Trial Lawyers Treat COVID-19 As Another Feather In Their Caps

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about trial lawyers’ latest pet project – business interruption lawsuits against insurance companies in the wake of COVID-19.

Trial Lawyers Delight at Prospect of Congress, White House Flip

A Washington controlled by Democrats would be a bonanza for the trial bar, writes W.J. Kennedy for Legal Newsline.

Majority of US States Block Juries’ Access to True Medical Costs

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about the troubling new trend of medical financing in litigation for Medium.

Judge Managing Opioid Lawsuit Under Scrutiny

ATRA President Tiger Joyce dives into controversies surrounding biases of the federal judge overseeing the nation’s opioid MDL for Inside Sources.

ALI Consumer Contract Restatement Is Biased Advocacy

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about the American Law Institute’s diversion from its original mission in this opinion editorial for Law360.

Injury Attys Undaunted By COVID-19 Nursing Home Immunity

ATRA President says COVID-19 statutes reflect a broader perspective than lawsuit shields as they are enacted by lawmakers, not just a single governor.

Governor signs law on punitive damages, merchandising act

Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed into law reforms to the state’s punitive damages system, writes John Breslin for the St. Louis Record.

Congress needs to pass tort reform to protect CARES Act funding

ATRA cited in an opinion editorial by John DeMaggio for The Hill regarding potential lawsuit abuse in the wake of COVID-19.

Virus Liability Shields Move Ahead in Louisiana, Other States

States advance liability shields for businesses in the absence of federal liability protection, writes Chris Marr of Bloomberg Law.

Climate cases keep landing in state court. Why it matters

Judges across the country have now determined that climate lawsuits against oil and gas companies belong in state courts, writes Jennifer Hijazi of E&E News.

In shortened session, legislators manage to pass tort reform bill, key win for businesses

Business leaders and tort reform advocates have welcomed changes that will limit punitive damage awards in Missouri, John Lewis of the St. Louis Record writes.

Climate Case Is Ninth Circuit’s Golden Opportunity on Nuisance Suits

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has an opportunity to redirect policy and push back on activist attorneys’ attempts to improperly expand public nuisance law. With Covid-19 public nuisance lawsuits coming, Tiger Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association, discusses the importance of the climate change lawsuit.

Carmichael says legislation to protect essential businesses, workers being drafted

West Virginia Senate President Mitch Carmichael says legislation is being drafted to ensure liability protections to protect small business owners and workers, especially health care workers who are protecting our state’s citizens amid the Coronavirus pandemic, writes Chris Dickerson of the West Virginia Record.

Like Virus Itself, Future of Malpractice Liability Is Uncharted

During a pandemic, where contagious people crowd spaces shared with the uninfected or the healthy, concern over liability is heightened, writes Brandi Buchanan of Courthouse News Service.

Lawsuits Loom Over COVID-19 Exposure As Businesses Reopen Around the U.S.

As businesses reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, tort reformers are mobilizing to enact federal and state protections against an anticipated plethora of personal injury lawsuits, writes Amanda Bronstad of Law.com.

Class-Action Conundrum

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about COVID-19 liability concerns and class action lawsuit abuse.

Protecting Our COVID-19 Protectors

ATRA President Tiger Joyce writes about COVID-19 liability concerns in Inside Sources.

Suits against cruise line signal start of litigation over coronavirus

Lawsuits alleging negligence by Princess Cruises for failing to warn about the possibility of contracting the coronavirus are part of what likely will be a multitude of COVID-19 related litigation, a tort reform advocate says, writes Sarah Downey for the Northern California Record.

Medical malpractice carriers giving, getting leeway in face of COVID-19 pandemic

Medical malpractice insurers have responded with flexibility as their clients deal with liability concerns produced by the COVID-19 pandemic, writes Tom Jacobs for S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Bloomberg and Biden’s social solution? Sue.

ATRA Public Affairs Manager Bailey N. Griffith writes about a call for more litigation from Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden.

Philly can become less anti-business by looking at the courts

By Tiger Joyce and Curt Schroder (Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform)   Mayor Jim Kenney touted the importance of fostering a pro-business climate in Philadelphia during his Feb. 11 […]

Report: Excessive lawsuit costs subtract almost $2 billion and 20,000 jobs from Louisiana’s economy

Groups calling for an overhaul of Louisiana’s legal system say “excessive” litigation costs subtract $1.9 billion from the state’s annual economic output, leading to the loss of 19,794 jobs and […]

ATRA says attorneys spent $1.5 million on TV ads in West Virginia in three months

The American Tort Reform Association has released a report showing that attorneys spent $1.5 million from July through September on television advertisements in West Virginia.   ATRA found that viewers […]

Top 10 ‘Judicial Hellholes’ for 2020 Named by Tort Reform Group

It’s out: the annual report by tort reform advocates of what they say are the nation’s worst local courts and states that are abusing the civil justice system.   The […]

Tiger Joyce on Talk With Audrey – Judicial Hellholes

American Tort Reform Association President Sherman “Tiger” Joyce on Talk With Audrey discussing the 2019-2020 Judicial Hellholes.

Georgia Legislature must address tort reform

Georgia has earned a new distinction, and it’s not a good one. For the first time, our state is listed among the nation’s “Judicial Hellholes” by the American Tort Reform […]

Nationwide concerns cannot be solved in local courts

By Tiger Joyce   Vaping, climate change, and opioids might seem disconnected, but they have more in common than one might think. They’re each significant public challenges that state and […]

Tiger Joyce on Good Day Tulsa – Judicial Hellholes

American Tort Reform Association President Sherman “Tiger” Joyce on Good Day Tulsa discussing Oklahoma’s No. 8 ranking among the 2019-2020 Judicial Hellholes.

Tiger Joyce on ConnTV – Judicial Hellholes 2019-2020

American Tort Reform Association President Sherman “Tiger” Joyce on Conn TV discussing the 2019-2020 Judicial Hellholes.

Letters: Louisiana among the worst in lawsuit abuses against business

Louisiana unfortunately is a perpetual fixture on the American Tort Reform Foundation’s “Judicial Hellholes” list, which identifies those states with civil justice systems that allow lawsuit abuse to flourish. As […]

Ron DeSantis praised for improving legal environment

After a decade on the list, Florida has slipped out of the top-10 in the American Tort Reform Association’s annual “Judicial Hellholes” list. The Florida Justice Reform Institute attributes the […]

New York state is still a top ‘judicial hellhole,’ report finds

New York State is holding steady as the nation’s third worst “judicial hellhole,” according to a new watchdog report. The Big Apple’s rotten rank stems from serial plaintiffs and lawyers […]

Philadelphia Court Tops ‘Judicial Hellholes’ List

The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where a jury awarded an $8 billion verdict against Johnson & Johnson, took the No. 1 spot in the annual “Judicial Hellholes” report.   […]

Louisiana labeled ‘Judicial Hellhole’ for 7th year

The American Tort Reform Association has once again labeled Louisiana as a “Judicial Hellhole” this year, ranking the state at No. 4. Louisiana has been included in the rankings for […]

St. Clair, Madison counties remain in the top ten for the worst ‘judicial hellholes’

The American Tort Reform Association has once again ranked St. Clair and Madison counties among the country’s worst “judicial hellholes” — jurisdictions, courts and legislatures the lobbying group considers unfair. […]

Tort Lawyers Take Over the American Law Institute

Once respected for its objectivity, it’s becoming another interest group.