Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch and Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense have estimated that the cost of excessive litigation in the state tops $1 billion, with 15,500 jobs lost per year.
Lana Venable of Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch said it is important to raise awareness about the impact of excessive litigation.
"Unfounded lawsuits hurt businesses while generating exorbitant fees for attorneys. These fees, as well as large plaintiff awards, drive up the cost of doing business," Venable told Louisiana Record. "Unfortunately, it’s the customers who must pay the price when businesses are forced to pass along these costs just to survive."
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Venable said that the average citizen of Louisiana is paying for lawsuit abuse by a small number of people, groups and companies.
"The bottom line is that all of us wind up paying a price for lawsuit abuse through higher prices for products and services," Venable said. "Louisiana has long maintained a reputation as one of the worst places in the country to be sued."
Venable argues that coastal lawsuits are part of the problem, as they target oil and gas companies, which are major employers.
"Baseless lawsuits are a drain on our already struggling economy," Venable said. "All of us are feeling the effects of lawsuit abuse. If things are ever going to change, we must work together to stop these costly abuses in our legal system."