Gerald Griggs, an attorney at Gerald Griggs LLC, said that Governor Brian Kemp's proposed tort reform bill, Senate Bill 68, aims to prevent plaintiffs from delaying cases unnecessarily by tightening case dismissal rules. The statement was made on X on February 23.
"Senate Bill 68 SB68, was introduced in the Georgia legislature," said Griggs. "The bill has passed in the Senate and will now move to the House for debate and voting. The changes to voluntary dismissals could also prevent plaintiffs from delaying cases unnecessarily."
Governor Kemp’s tort reform package introduces measures intended to reduce excessive litigation costs, stabilize insurance rates, and increase fairness in Georgia’s legal system. It includes premises liability reforms designed to hold businesses accountable only for conditions they control, medical damage calculations aimed at preventing inflated claims, and jury award guidelines to stop attorneys from using arbitrary comparisons in pain and suffering cases. The legislation also seeks to increase transparency in third-party litigation funding and bans foreign adversaries from exploiting Georgia’s courts.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), in 2022, Georgia’s tort costs totaled $20 billion, representing 2.60% of the state’s GDP. On average, this amounted to $5,050 per household. These costs include settlements, legal fees, and related expenses.
Attorney Gerald A. Griggs is a civil rights lawyer, criminal defense attorney, and community advocate based in Atlanta, Georgia. He serves as the president of the Georgia NAACP and has built a reputation for championing justice reform, voting rights, and fair legal representation. With over two decades of legal experience, Griggs has been involved in high-profile cases and grassroots movements.