Full story in The Salt Lake Tribune

By Collin Bateman

As a Utah farmer, I’ve witnessed how rising costs are squeezing agriculture and small businesses across our state. The legal system has become a significant driver of these expenses, and change is long overdue. Utah’s legal environment is making life harder for everyone — from farmers like me to families trying to make ends meet.

In 2022, lawsuit abuse costs in the U.S. reached $529 billion, or about $4,200 per household. These costs go far beyond just legal fees and settlements; they push up prices for consumers on everything from groceries to insurance premiums.

The price of machinery parts, repair services, and insurance premiums has skyrocketed. Small businesses, including family-owned farms, bear a significant portion of the commercial lawsuit abuse costs. If this continues, agricultural businesses will be forced to close, and that means higher prices for everyone in the Beehive State who depends on affordable food and goods.

Business owners are forced to pay higher insurance premiums to protect themselves from frivolous lawsuits. It’s not just farmers who are affected — it’s everyone who relies on affordable goods and services.

Lawsuit abuse reform is the solution. States like West Virginia, which made lawsuit abuse reform a priority, saw their costs drop by more than 20%. Utah has the chance to do the same. Reforms like capping punitive damages, reducing frivolous lawsuits, and making the legal process more transparent would help create a fairer system for everyone.

Utahns should appeal to our leaders in supporting lawsuit abuse reform. Together, we can fix a system that’s hurting our businesses, our families and our communities. Let’s make sure Utah’s legal system works for all of us, not just a select few.