Issues

Most Recent Study

February 29, 2024
Summary:
Study examines anti-patient proposals pushed by organized medicine and the insurance industry to force or pressure medical malpractice victims to resolve medical malpractice cases entirely outside the court system.
January 29, 2024
Summary:
All the latest statistics about medical malpractice litigation, cost, access to doctors, insurance, and patient safety.
March 14, 2023
Summary:
Study finds that commercial insurers are misrepresenting their actual losses, sometimes by large percentages, in order to justify its price-gouging of businesses and to push for restrictions on the legal rights of everyday Americans.
October 5, 2020
Summary:
For many years, small business surveys have put “lawsuits” or “liability” at the bottom of their list of concerns, if they're mentioned at all. Even during the pandemic, the same is true.
November 7, 2017
Summary:
Two studies of class action settlements finding overwhelming evidence that class actions have helped victims of corporate law-breaking and led to changes in corporate behavior that protect us all from many types of illegal conduct.
November 21, 2016
Summary:
Medical malpractice premiums and claims are at historic lows.
November 21, 2016
Summary:
Study finds that "tort reforms" do not reduce insurance rates.
January 21, 2016
Summary:
Detailed critique of a new proposal that would do away with judges and juries in medical malpractice cases, replaced by a new, centralized government agency called the Patient
January 11, 2016
Summary:
All the latest statistics about tort litigation, verdicts, and who's really using the civil courts in America.
April 9, 2014
Summary:
This backgrounder explains how the Garlock asbestos decision contradicts credible scientists, impartial scientific research groups, judges and juries in thousands of other asbestos cases, and Garlock itself.
May 7, 2013
Summary:
Class action lawsuits are one of the most important tools that citizens have to protect their rights but, between legislative acts and recent Supreme Court decisions, class actions have been severely limited and, in some areas, are headed for extinction.
January 31, 2013
Summary:
The contingency fee system performs an integral function, providing people in need with attorneys and keeping meritless cases from clogging our courts.
December 4, 2012
Summary:
Detailed critique of a new Georgia proposal that would do away with the tort system in medical malpractice cases, replacing it with a biased administrative structure.
March 21, 2012
Summary:
Examines how some government food safety functions have been privatized, leading to foodborne illness outbreaks, and how civil lawsuits can step in to help where government has failed.
December 15, 2011
Summary:
The first definitive expose of 35 years of manufactured insurance crises. So far there have been three. We document how this industry is now creating a fourth.
October 24, 2011
Summary:
Examines the impact of Wisconsin's drug and device immunity proposal in light of Michigan's experience.
October 19, 2011
Summary:
Finds that news coverage of civil jury verdicts fails to provide an accurate picture of the civil justice system and that certain new media trends are making the situation worse.
September 12, 2011
Summary:
Debunks many common myths about punitive damages and shows how important they are for protecting the public health and safety.
July 18, 2011
Summary:
Exposes Sweden's and New Zealand's no-fault systems for medical malpractice cases and shows why they cannot and should not be replicated in the United States.
January 5, 2011
Summary:
This report calls the bluff on those claiming that doctors routinely order unnecessary tests or procedures for the purpose of “lawsuit avoidance,” so-called “defensive medicine.”
September 21, 2010
Summary:
Explores the recent work of the right-wing, corporate-sponsored, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and its Civil Justice Task Force priorities over the last three years.
September 14, 2010
Summary:
Finds that Washington State's insurance industry-sponored initiative, I-1082, would increase costs, reduce benefits.
February 17, 2010
Summary:
Explores how the weakening of investors’ and borrowers’ legal rights since the 1990s have compounded deregulation and lax regulatory enforcement to lead to the recent economic collapse.
January 28, 2010
Summary:
Debunks Towers Perrin Highly-Exaggerated "Tort Cost" Numbers.
October 20, 2009
Summary:
The importance of the civil justice system in cases of corporate lawbreaking.
March 30, 2009
Summary:
Finds that medical devices for the heart have caused thousands of needless injuries and deaths, yet patients currently have no legal recourse against reckless medical device manufacturers.
January 5, 2009
Summary:
This report examines the troubling activism by the current U.S. Supreme Court to restrict litigation against reckless corporations in the areas of preemption (i.e., immunity), punitive damages, judicial recusal, mandatory binding arbitration, environmenta
August 11, 2008
Summary:
Finds that many of this country’s dangerous government-approved drugs and devices have been marketed specifically for women and that these products were removed or made safer only after women filed lawsuits.
August 5, 2008
Summary:
Refutes views of corporate groups to show that recent playground development with safer shapes and materials has not only allowed playgrounds to be fun and interesting for kids, but also safer and less likely to send a child to the hospital.
July 4, 2008
Summary:
Groundbreaking law review article exposes the racial prejudice lurking behind the so-called “tort reform” movement, focusing on five major areas where the legal rights of minorities are being challenged.
March 25, 2008
Summary:
Examines why state Attorneys General are among our country’s most important public advocates and exposes unfair, misleading assaults by corporate special interests.
February 28, 2008
Summary:
Discusses Michigan's unprecedented law that prevents residents harmed by dangerous drugs from gaining access to the civil justice system, which has been devastating for Michiganders while failing to accomplish any promised economic benefits for the state.
October 15, 2007
Summary:
Everyone should have the right to take action in court when their own health and the welfare of their own communities are at stake, and polluters should be held accountable for the harm they cause to ordinary people.
October 9, 2007
Summary:
Exposes the hazardous and deadly nature of the construction industry in Illinois since the elimination of a safety law more than 10 years ago.
September 30, 2007
Summary:
Examines current administrative compensation schemes and alternative tribunals and exposes the important ways health courts would differ from them. These differences will make the health courts unconstitutional under most state constitutions.
August 14, 2007
Summary:
Explores how the corporate take-over of federal agencies and preemption of legal rights has hurt the public health and safety.
July 15, 2006
Summary:
This report shows how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides substantial financial and strategic assistance to local front groups to influence state elections, including funding major media buys to smear local candidates.
June 9, 2006
Summary:
Workers’ compensation programs throughout the country have been devastating for injured workers, leaving them to contend with an adversarial bureaucracy and inadequate benefits that render many destitute.
June 9, 2006
Summary:
Workers’ compensation programs throughout the country have been devastating for injured workers, leaving them to contend with an adversarial bureaucracy and inadequate benefits that render many destitute.
June 9, 2006
Summary:
Workers’ compensation programs throughout the country have been devastating for injured workers, leaving them to contend with an adversarial bureaucracy and inadequate benefits that render many destitute.
June 9, 2006
Summary:
Workers’ compensation programs throughout the country have been devastating for injured workers, leaving them to contend with an adversarial bureaucracy and inadequate benefits that render many destitute.
June 9, 2006
Summary:
Workers’ compensation programs throughout the country have been devastating for injured workers, leaving them to contend with an adversarial bureaucracy and inadequate benefits that render many destitute.
June 9, 2006
Summary:
Workers’ compensation programs throughout the country have been devastating for injured workers, leaving them to contend with an adversarial bureaucracy and inadequate benefits that render many destitute.
June 9, 2006
Summary:
Workers’ compensation programs throughout the country have been devastating for injured workers, leaving them to contend with an adversarial bureaucracy and inadequate benefits that render many destitute.
February 22, 2006
Summary:
This report describes the major flaws in the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) “Judicial Hellhole” report, presents a wealth of contradictory information, and concludes that ATRA has severely misled Florida’s lawmakers and the public with this repor
November 1, 2005
Summary:
This report analyzes the claims payments and performance of Physicians Insurance based on the Annual Statements it has filed with the Washington Office of Insurance Commissioner during the last 10 years and the additional statement it has filed covering t
August 29, 2005
Summary:
Examines how mandatory binding arbitration hurts employees, consumers and patients.
July 1, 2005
Summary:
This study details how medical malpractice insurance rates for doctors have skyrocketed in recent years even though, claim payments are down.
February 16, 2005
Summary:
Explores the influence of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the outcome of the 2004 elections.
July 20, 2004
Summary:
Dispels many myths about the need for "tort reform" among the small business community.
October 6, 2003
Summary:
Examines doctors and medical societies that run to court when they've been harmed, as well as doctors who make more per year than what they want to give patients for a lifetime of suffering.
April 9, 2003
Summary:
Refutes American Medical Association claims of “crisis” by examining contradictory courtroom and medical evidence in 18 states.
February 1, 2003
Summary:
Shows Illinois medical malpractice claims have been stable for 30 years, but premiums gyrate in sync with economy and investment income.
January 24, 2003
Summary:
Documents the malfeasance of the insurance industry and its close ties to President Bush and Congress.
April 22, 2002
Summary:
Examines how high-tech companies use the courts while pushing to restrict lawsuits by consumers.
April 9, 2002
Summary:
Exposes how the insurance industry uses its power over the U.S. economy to promote a legislative agenda that bilks U.S. taxpayers and abolishes consumer's rights.
February 1, 2002
Summary:
This study examines insurance rates over the last 14 years in every state in the country, and finds there to be no correlation between enactment of tort reforms and insurance rates.
November 1, 2001
Summary:
An examination of the civil justice system and terrorism, war crimes and human rights violations that includes 60 completed and pending cases involving circumstances relevant to today’s world situation.
April 17, 2001
Summary:
Dispels myths about the real importance of "tort reform" to the business community.
January 2, 2001
Summary:
Analyzes how the media's reporting of jury verdicts sometimes perpetuates the misperception that our civil jury system is in a state of emergency. (2001)
December 4, 2000
Summary:
Examines individuals and corporations that have sued sometimes for millions of dollars while at the same time championing damage caps and other severe liability restrictions for others.
August 3, 2000
Summary:
This study identifies corporations, national lobbying groups & political consulting firms behind local Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) groups, and exposes how the tobacco industry has concealed its leading role to preserve CALA's credibility.
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