Arbitration & Mediation

2008 Pacific Research Institute Study Finds Florida Has Worst Tort System

By Christopher B. Hopkins, Esq.

A study by a "distinguished conservative leader in public policy" found that, among all 50 states, Florida has the worst tort system. The Pacific Research Institute's lengthy 2008 U.S. Tort Liability Index even has a foreward by the former governor, Jeb Bush. It's a massive 1 meg download however you can get the executive summary here.

Some noteworthy statements:

* Fmr. Governor Bush extolls that Florida has "many of the best tort rules on the books..." which he believes have not had time to improve Florida's ranking since they were passed in 2006.
* Intended to be used for businesses
* Openly holds litigation to be an "industry"
* Finds that litigation imposes a 7-10% "tax" on consumption/wages
* 15 cents of every "tort dollar" goes to victims... the rest is equated to "gasoline spilled on the ground"
* Florida had 12 of the top 100 verdicts
* South Florida is a "judicial hellhole" which has a disproportionate harmful effect on the tort system
* When a lawyer is brought into an insurance dispute, the cost increases 64%
* Florida is neither saint nor sinner but "salvageable"

Take a read and email your feedback.

Full post as published by Florida Arbitration Law on March 27, 2008 (boomark / email).