In 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature championed a series of lawsuit abuse reforms. These significant reforms cracked down on the predatory practices of billboard attorneys, and were a big win for Florida consumers and small business owners. 

Now, a new poll highlights that Florida voters across the state strongly support Florida’s landmark lawsuit abuse reforms. The Florida Chamber of Commerce’s new poll finds about three times more voters back lawsuit abuse reform than oppose it:

The poll also found support remains for legislation to curb lawsuit abuse enacted in 2023. [Only] about 11% of voters felt the efforts to curb frivolous litigation went too far, about a third the number of respondents who strongly supported the change to state law.

Additionally, the poll found Floridians overwhelmingly believe billboard attorneys care more about “making money” than “protecting the rights of citizens”:

Of note, a similar 11% of voters believe personal injury lawyers advertising services are more interested in protecting the rights of citizens, while 74% say those attorneys are chiefly interested in making money. The anti-attorney sentiment was prevalent among 83% of Republicans and 71% of unaffiliated voters.

It’s no surprise Floridians support lawsuit abuse reform. In recent months there have been a bevy of headlines highlighting how the 2023 lawsuit abuse laws have resulted in lower costs for Floridians:

Florida drivers may be getting a better price on their auto insurance.

According to the State Office of Insurance Regulation, car insurance rates among the five largest carriers in Florida have decreased by an average of 6.5% this year…

Officials attributed the decrease to recent insurance tort reforms passed by the state legislature.

As Josh Hammer stated in the New York Post today, Florida’s lawsuit abuse reforms set an example that the rest of the country should follow:

Florida led the charge to crack down on these lawsuit-for-profit practices, and Georgia passed similar laws earlier this year.

Other states should follow suit. If we don’t fight back, what’s left of public life will belong to whoever sues first.

When society stops punishing bad actors, it starts rewarding the most shameless ones. And the lowest life form of American commerce, it turns out, is the billboard tort bar.

From polling results to prices falling, Florida has shown that not only does lawsuit abuse reform works, but it’s popular too. It brings down costs for consumers and improves the business climate for small business owners. It’s time for other states to follow Florida’s lead and put consumers, small businesses, and economic fairness ahead of billboard attorney’s profits.