Louisiana: 49th among all fifty states in litigation fairness

Art installation "Judge Not" dedicated to the officers of the court
who stole my children:  Woodrow "Woody" Nesbitt,
Ron Miciotto, Charles "Pete" Kammer III, Shelley Booker (LCSW),
and Judges Frances J. Pitman & Robert P. Waddell
of the 1st Judicial Court in Caddo Parish, LA

Louisiana's Overall Ranking: 49

Judges' Impartiality: 48

Judges' Competence: 48

Timeliness of Summary Judgment or Dismissal: 50

Discovery: 46

Scientific and Technical Evidence: 49

Juries’ Fairness: 48 

(Source: US Chamber of Commerce — 2012 State Liability Systems Ranking Study/Sept. 10, 2012)

• The ranking marks Louisiana’s third consecutive year in that position and the state has never ranked higher than 47 since the survey’s inception in 2002.

• Seven in 10 business leaders say lawsuit climate ‘significant factor’ in determining where to expand & grow.

• “...Louisiana is still notorious for excessive verdicts, loose class-certification standards, and an unfair judiciary,” said Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform.

• According to the study, Creating Conditions for Economic Growth: The Role of the Legal Environment, completed for ILR by NERA Economic Consulting in 2011, Louisiana could save up to $1.1 billion in tort costs and increase employment between 1.03 – 2.79% by improving its legal environment.

See the entire 50-state list and read a full copy of Lawsuit Climate 2012: Ranking the States online at: www.instituteforlegalreform.com/states

(Source:  USCOfC Institute for Legal Reform.  ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the national, state, and local levels. Contact: Mike Lepage @ 202-463-5554.)