CHARLESTON – West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse has kicked off Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week to shine a light on what it calls injustices plaguing our state’s civil justice system.
But a statewide group for trial attorneys denounced WV CALA for its "unrelenting propaganda campaign to increase corporate profits at the expense of citiizens' rights to trial by jury in civil cases."
WV CALA Executive Director Greg Thomas said Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week is October 7-11.
Thomas
| File photo
“For years, we have highlighted abuses and misuse of our courts to foster dialogue on the need for reform,” Thomas said. “We are especially proud this year, because Governor Jim Justice has issued a proclamation naming this week Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week in West Virginia.
“This week is about holding courts, judges, and elected officials accountable for everyone's benefit. We're advocating for a more balanced civil justice system that serves the greater good, not just a select few.”
Thomas said lawsuit abuse hampers economic growth and erodes confidence in our legal system. WV CALA says every American pays an annual “tort tax” due to the costs of lawsuit abuse, adding that small businesses often bear the brunt of excessive litigation, undermining their ability to succeed.
According to a recent study conducted by the Perryman Group for Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, West Virginians pay an annual tort tax of $662.35. The study also says it costs the state 10,737 jobs.
But the West Virginia Association for Justice dismissed the claims of WV CALA and Thomas.
“When is Greg Thomas going to stop lying to West Virginia citizens and lawmakers?" WVAJ President Steven Broadwater said. "CALA is a front group for billion-dollar, multinational, woke corporations, and Greg Thomas is paid to scare West Virginians into giving away their constitutional rights. They want to destroy our civil justice system to increase their profits at the expense of your rights and your pocketbooks.
"The so-called ‘tort tax’ is a boogeyman. It’s been debunked for years. The report’s authors even admit that it’s a report on ‘insurance premiums earned and losses incurred in each year.’ That’s a report on profitability, not court costs. The majority of insurance claims have nothing to do with liability and never even reach the courtroom."
Broadwater said that despite payouts and million-dollar CEO salaries, the insurance industry made $88 billion in profits last year.
“Now, CALA’s ‘lawsuit abuse’ and ‘tort tax’ boogeyman rears its ugly head because 'Big Insurance' wants to increase our premiums, low-ball and deny claims, and make their profits even bigger," he said. "It is unconscionable to do this at a time when Appalachia is reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
“We need to focus on what will bring good jobs here — better roads, statewide internet access, a workforce educated for 21st century jobs. We need a fair court system that respects and protects the rights of West Virginia citizens and small business owners. When corporate bad actors cheat the system and harm residents and workers, they must be held accountable.
"West Virginians have enough real problems facing us. We don’t have time to bother with a made-up boogeyman created by a corporate shill.”
WV CALA says West Virginians shouldn't have to suffer the financial strains of lawsuit abuse, and Thomas says Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week serves as a critical reminder that reform is needed to protect hardworking families, to promote economic growth and to restore fairness to our courts.
Thomas said WV CALA will be doing media interviews throughout the state this week in honor of Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week in addition to a roundtable discussion in Bridgeport.