Alexis Kinsey, Chair of the Georgia Restaurant Association, penned a recent op-ed that laid out how Georgia’s current legal system is threatening the viability of small businesses and ultimately driving up costs for consumers.

Kinsey, the owner of Fork U Concepts, which operates 16 restaurants in Georgia, discussed how frivolous lawsuits are creating major challenges for business owners in the state.

“A slip and fall in heels, an accidental bump with a server, a chipped tooth on a hard bit of rice: All these incidents seem trivial and commonplace for a bustling restaurant, but for Georgia restauranteurs, just one of these incidents could mean paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.”

Kinsey’s point about the rising number of frivolous lawsuits reflects a troubling trend for business owners. Even small, unintentional accidents can lead to massive payouts, threatening the financial stability of local businesses.

“Even though my business had no claims last year, my business insurance premiums are rising at an unsustainable rate. In fact, our company would need to sell an additional 16,000 tacos this year to cover the cost of the increase in our insurance premiums.”

Rising insurance premiums due to excessive litigation are a serious issue for businesses, and Kinsey emphasizes how these costs are ultimately passed on to consumers, raising prices across the board.

“Gov. Brian Kemp has introduced a litigation reform package that would rebalance the legal system so that business owners like us can focus on growing their businesses.”

Gov. Kemp’s proposed litigation reforms aim to address these challenges by limiting excessive lawsuits and capping large injury awards. By taking steps to reform Georgia’s legal system, both businesses and consumers can be protected. These changes would help stabilize the legal environment for businesses, fostering growth and keeping consumer prices in check.