WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has launched a new public awareness campaign featuring individuals who have been victimized by lawsuit abuse. The I Am Lawsuit Abuse.org Web site features videos of everyday people who have been the targets of unfair lawsuits, and provides other lawsuit victims with the opportunity to share their stories. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform President Lisa A. Rickard issued the following statement on the Judicial Hellholes 2007 report released today by the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF) Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform President Lisa A. Rickard released the following statement in response to today's release of the Tillinghast Towers-Perrin annual study (pdf) of the cost of America's tort system, which shows an overall 5.5 percent decline in 2006 to $247 billion Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform President Lisa A. Rickard, and the U.S. Chamber Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness Executive Director Michael Ryan, released the following joint statement on the Financial Services Roundtable blue ribbon commission report (pdf) on enhancing competitiveness of the U.S. capital markets system Read More
When West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw sued drug maker PurduePharma over misrepresentation of its pain killer OxyContin, he petitioned the court saying, "This action involves the impact of State action against one of the most vulnerable and dependant sections of West Virginia society, the elderly and disabled."
McGraw was able to extract a $10 million settlement, but instead of reimbursing the state Medicaid program for its share of the lawsuit settlement, the Attorney General has been distributing this money to his favorite projects and institutions across the state: a pharmacy school, a day laborer center, a drug rehab facility and dozens of other places.
Meanwhile the state Medicaid program has seen a grand total of: zero dollars. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-In response to what it sees as improper practices by some officials, the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) issued a new set of ethical standards for state attorneys general today, and will urge its voluntary adoption.
"This proposed code of conduct balances the ability of the AGs to pursue wrongdoers while protecting the due process rights of the targets of the investigation and litigation," said ILR president Lisa Rickard in remarks at the Chamber's 8th Annual Legal Reform Summit. Read More
America needs more lawsuits. That’s the message hundreds of plaintiffs’ trial lawyers from across the country are taking to Capitol Hill this week as they lobby Congress to make it easier to bring more lawsuits.
It isn’t surprising. The plaintiffs’ bar has been chomping at the bit since last November’s elections. “We are going to get things done,” declared the treasurer of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America at the time (they’ve since changed their name to the “American Association for Justice”). Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform President Lisa A. Rickard released the following statement on the arbitration system in response to recent trial lawyer-backed studies and legislation aimed at undermining arbitration and encouraging more class action lawsuits:
"The plaintiffs' lawyers' attack on the arbitration system - a process that has helped consumers resolve disputes for more than 85 years - is nothing more than their latest attempt to enrich themselves by opening the door for more class action lawsuits. Read More
an executive order banning the use of contingency fee attorneys by the federal government. The Executive Order remains in effect. See Exec. Order 13433, 72 Fed. Reg. 28,441 (May 18, 2007). This Executive Order remains in force. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform President Lisa A. Rickard released the following statement on the Chung family's decision to close Custom Cleaners as a result of Judge Roy Pearson's $54 million lawsuit. Read More
Last year, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America decided that a few among their ranks had brought disrepute to the trial lawyers' reputation. So they decided to take a stand against the bad actors in their ranks and call for reforms to reduce outrageous lawsuits.
If only.
At last year's meeting, the trial lawyers instead decided the easier solution was a new name: the American Association for Justice, a moniker created to be, in their words, "about what we do, not who we are." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the recent name change by Tennessee's trial lawyer organization and the motives behind the coordinated effort now happening in at least 13 states. The SameLeopardNewSpots.com Web site criticizes the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, which has voted to call itself the Tennessee Association for Justice, for trying to conceal its identity from the public by changing its name. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Lisa Rickard, president of the Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform issued the following statement following the announcement of an appeal filed by Roy Pearson in the now notorious "pants lawsuit" against D.C. drycleaners, Jin and Soo Chung."This lawsuit has dragged on long enough. To the extent Roy Pearson ever thought he had a case, the overwhelmingly adverse decision in the trial court should have given him a clue. We urge him to reconsider his decision to bring this appeal, and allow the Chung's legal nightmare to end." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the recent name change by West Virginia's trial lawyer organization and the motives behind the coordinated effort now happening in at least 11 states. The SameLeopardNewSpots.com Web site criticizes the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, now calling itself the West Virginia Association for Justice, for trying to conceal its identity from the public by changing its name. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the recent name change by Rhode Island's trial lawyer organization and the motives behind the coordinated effort now happening in at least 11 states. The SameLeopardNewSpots.com Web site criticizes the Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association, which has voted to call itself the Rhode Island Association for Justice, for trying to conceal its identity from the public by changing its name. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the recent name change by Ohio's trial lawyer organization and the motives behind the coordinated effort now happening in at least 11 states. The SameLeopardNewSpots.com Web site criticizes the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, now calling itself the Ohio Association for Justice, for trying to conceal its identity from the public by changing its name. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the recent name change by Minnesota's trial lawyer organization and the motives behind the coordinated effort now happening in at least 11 states. The SameLeopardNewSpots.com Web site criticizes the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, now calling itself the Minnesota Association for Justice, for trying to conceal its identity from the public by changing its name. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the recent name change by Kentucky's trial lawyer organization and the motives behind the coordinated effort now happening in at least 11 states. The SameLeopardNewSpots.com Web site criticizes the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, now calling itself the Kentucky Justice Association, for trying to conceal its identity from the public by changing its name. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the recent name change by Kansas's trial lawyer organization and the motives behind the coordinated effort now happening in at least 11 states. The SameLeopardNewSpots.com Web site criticizes the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, which has voted to call itself the Kansas Association for Justice, for trying to conceal its identity from the public by changing its name. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) has launched a new public awareness campaign highlighting the recent name change by Alabama's trial lawyer organization and the motives behind the coordinated effort now happening in at least 11 states. The SameLeopardNewSpots.com Web site criticizes the Alabama Association of Trial Lawyers, now calling itself the Alabama Association for Justice, for trying to conceal its identity from the public by changing its name. Read More