State Lawsuit Climate Impact On Display As Amazon’s HQ2 Search Continues, ILR’s Rickard Says

The effects of a state’s lawsuit climate are now playing out on a national stage as Amazon picks a location for its second headquarters, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) President Lisa A. Rickard said in a new Washington Times op-ed.

The company’s search has “highlighted what companies want from the cities or states where they do business,” which includes a factor that is “becoming more and more important: A state’s lawsuit climate.” Since “the harder and more expensive it is to defend against frivolous lawsuits, the costlier it is to do business.” Rickard said state officials should be aware of how their climates stack up against other states if they “truly want to be ‘open for business.’”

Businesses and government officials can look at the 2017 Lawsuit Climate Survey, conducted by Harris Poll and released by ILR, for a snapshot of how states compare. Last year, 85 percent of respondents said a state’s litigation environment is likely to impact their decisions on where to locate or expand.