A group of business associations recently hosted a luncheon to discuss the legal climate in the state of Louisiana as well as ways to improve the business scene for local enterprises.
The luncheon and panel discussion was sponsored by Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch, Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense, and the Grow Louisiana Coalition and supported by the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), a Jan. 24 posting on watchdog.org said.
The panel discussion at the luncheon featured Stephen Waguespack, CEO of LABI, who spoke on issues including lawsuit abuse in the state and tort costs, which are costing Louisiana families $4,000 per household on average, the posting said. Directly related to the rampant legal pursuits is auto insurance, which is one of the highest in the nation due to the number of lawsuits that are filed over minor car accidents.
Chance McNeely, executive director for Louisiana Motor Transport Association, recently spoke with the Louisiana Record and discussed the need for civil justice reforms in Louisiana, specifically in regards to drivers.
"As things stand today in Louisiana, it costs four-to-five times more to insure a commercial truck here than the national average," McNeely said. "This dynamic makes trucking companies move to other states and drives up the cost of everything because everything is transported by truck at some point."
McNeely said he believes the residents in Louisiana are being left to suffer from the poor tort system.
"Our people and our economy in Louisiana are at a major disadvantage," McNeely said. "We must level the playing field for plaintiffs and defendants in our court system. The legislature must act because we are on a truly unsustainable path."