Lawsuit abuse affects the daily lives of Georgians, from medical professionals to small businesses and families. With the rise in excessive lawsuits, consumers face higher costs, medical professionals are leaving the state, and businesses are struggling to stay afloat. In a recent conversation between Erick Erickson and Senator John Kennedy, they discussed how lawsuit abuse is crippling Georgia and the need for tort reform to restore balance to the system.

One of the immediate consequences of lawsuit abuse in Georgia is the increase in insurance premiums for consumers. Erick Erickson explained how ambulance-chasing lawsuits directly lead to higher costs for everyone:

“What actually happens then is everybody’s insurance rates go up. Doctors start moving out of states. There are parts of a number of states… where there’s not a single OBGYN for pregnant women because medical malpractice insurance rates have gotten so astronomical nobody can do business.”

Erickson noted that small businesses, in particular, are being squeezed by increasing costs as a result of excessive litigation:

“It’s pricing companies out of business. It’s pricing hospitals out of business. It’s pricing doctors out of business. It’s pricing you out of the ability to afford homeowner’s insurance.”

Senator John Kennedy pointed out that Georgia has become a prime example of how lawsuit abuse can wreak havoc on a state’s economy and legal system:

“We are two years now running the number one judicial hellhole in the country. And that’s not something I made up. That’s not my phraseology. That’s an award we shamefully have won for two years, meaning that on the ranking compared to the other 49 states, we’re the worst.”

Both Erickson and Kennedy agree that tort reform is crucial to addressing the challenges posed by lawsuit abuse in Georgia. Senator Kennedy pointed to the positive effects that tort reform has had in neighboring Florida, where meaningful changes have helped stabilize the insurance market and benefit residents:

“Florida had some meaningful tort reforms, and they are starting to enjoy some of the benefits of stabilizing that insurance market, as well as benefits to all citizens in Georgia.”

With reforms in place, Florida has seen a reduction in litigation, leading to lower insurance costs and a more stable business environment. By implementing similar tort reforms, Georgia could also experience these benefits and help lift the financial burden on its residents.

Despite the clear impact of lawsuit abuse, some trial lawyers remain indifferent to the consequences of their actions. Erickson observed that many trial lawyers view the system as an opportunity to target deep-pocketed companies, without considering the broader harm their lawsuits cause to Georgia’s economy:

“The trial lawyers do not care. They do not think it’s a problem. And the way they look at it is they say, well, these companies have deep pockets. They’re just complaining.”