Washington, D.C. — This week, Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT), a national advocacy and educational organization dedicated to protecting plaintiffs, victims, and consumers through a fair and transparent legal system, hosted the inaugural PACT Summit: Protecting Consumers from Lawsuit Abuse at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
More than 100 guests convened for a full day of programming spotlighting the rising costs of lawsuit abuse and the need for meaningful legal reforms. The Summit culminated in a fireside chat with Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp, who received PACT’s Champion of the Year Award — a commemorative mini-billboard recognizing his leadership on lawsuit abuse reform.
Governor Kemp highlighted how Georgia’s recent tort reform legislation has become a model for other states seeking to protect consumers, lower costs, and preserve access to the courts. He praised the broad and diverse coalition of stakeholders instrumental in passing the reforms, including PACT. At the time, Bloomberg Law noted “PACT notched a win in April, when Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed tort reform legislation.”
“At our inaugural PACT Summit, we reinforced a simple truth: consumers should not bear the cost of lawsuit abuse. When excessive litigation drives up insurance premiums, healthcare costs, and everyday expenses, it’s families who ultimately pay the price. Leaders from across the country came together around practical, meaningful reforms that protect consumers while preserving access to the courts for victims. The alignment and urgency on display signal real and growing momentum for change. We are especially grateful to Governor Brian Kemp and former State Senator John F. Kennedy for their continued leadership and partnership in advancing reforms that restore fairness and accountability to our legal system.”
The day’s programming also featured engaging discussions with national media and policy leaders. Punchbowl News Managing Editor Heather Caygle moderated a conversation with former Georgia State Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy, focusing on lawsuit abuse and insurance affordability. Following, Adam Blinick, Head of Public Policy and Communications for Uber in the U.S. and Canada, joined a fireside chat on the impacts of excessive litigation on consumers and businesses.
Industry voices from the American Trucking Associations and the American Hotel & Lodging Association shared how lawsuit abuse is driving up costs for their stakeholders and raising barriers to economic growth. State reform leaders, including Ryan Patrick, CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, William Large of the Florida Justice Reform Institute, and Adam Morey of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York, discussed emerging strategies and priorities for lawsuit abuse reform across the states.
Later in the day, experts offered an in-depth look at how billboard lawyers work in conjunction with medical providers and financiers to exploit victims. This panel included PACT Board Members Tim Capowski and Jessica Schmor, along with Atlanta defense attorney Zach Matthews.
PACT also premiered a video recap highlighting its first year of impact —Nationwide imPACT — which is now available to watch online here.
A recap in the Atlanta Journal Constitution is available to read here. A recap from Punchbowl News can be read here.
The Punchbowl News panel with Senator Kennedy is available here.
The fireside conversation with Uber’s Adam Blinick is available here.
Subscribe to PACT’s YouTube channel to be notified when full panel remarks and additional videos are posted.
