NAM urges legal reform amidst new state legal rankings

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) president John Engler pushed for added legal reform May 11, citing a new report by the American Justice Partnership (AJP) as a tool for analyzing the condition of each state’s tort system.

“The unnecessary and excessive costs of the American tort system have become a major obstacle to the ability of U.S. manufacturers to succeed in the intensely competitive global market,” Engler said. “The flawed tort system produces higher prices for manufactured goods, higher insurance premiums and reduced access to health care.  It is a burden on our entire economy.”

The AJP report documents the performance of each state’s civil justice system, and highlights states that are allowing their residents and businesses to be burdened with costly and unfair civil justice systems.

“Frivolous lawsuits and jackpot justice are strangling job growth, undermining economic development, and creating a climate that threatens businesses everywhere, large and small,” said Engler. “This report is a very valuable resource to focus attention on previously obscure and hidden economic impacts of state civil justice systems.”

The NAM launched the American Justice Partnership (AJP) in January 2005, bringing together leading national and state organizations to coordinate the fight for effective legal reform.

AJP partners include the American Tort Reform Association, Washington Legal Foundation, Manhattan Institute, Center for Individual Freedom, Federalist Society, American Legislative Exchange Council, Council of State Chambers, and a number of state manufacturing associations and chambers of commerce.

A full text copy of the report is available at http://www.nam.org/tortliabilityindex.