CHARLESTON — West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit has announced Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week.
Greg Thomas with WVCALA says lawsuit abuse was one of the main impediments to job growth and affordable, accessible healthcare in West Virginia. The state was on the annual Judicial Hellhole list for more than a decade, and it was ranked 50th in a litigation fairness survey of major employers.
Now, Thomas says things are different because of new leadership at the state Capitol, an almost complete revamp of the state Supreme Court and the creation of a new Intermediate Appellate Court.
Thomas
"While much progress has been made, jackpot justice is not yet a thing of the past in West Virginia," Thomas said. "Personal injury lawyers continue to make millions of dollars per year and buy big houses and drive fast cars.
"Our once broken legal system is nearly fixed. Now is the time for our legislature to finish the job.”
According to a recent economic impact study, excessive tort litigation cost the Charleston area 2,406 jobs and an extra “tort tax” of $951 per person annually. The impact in Huntington was slightly less damaging, at 1,257 jobs and $359 per person for the “tort tax.” Thomas said those numbers show the damaging impact of lawsuit abuse in West Virginia and why it is imperative for necessary reforms to be implemented legislatively.