The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) has announced that Georgia's Senate Bill 68 aims to restore fairness in the state's civil justice system by reforming litigation practices such as phantom damages and jury anchoring. This announcement was made in a press release on February 24.
According to ATRA, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill 68 on February 24, 2025, with a vote of 33-21. The bill now proceeds to the House for further consideration. It seeks to address litigation practices by tackling phantom damages, limiting jury anchoring, and allowing evidence of seat belt use in crash-related cases.
Georgia ranks as the fourth-worst "Judicial Hellhole" in the United States, according to the American Tort Reform Foundation. This ranking is attributed to the increasing prevalence of multi-million-dollar verdicts, including a record-breaking $2.5 billion punitive damages verdict in early 2025.
The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), established in 1986, is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization focused on reforming the civil justice system and advocating for tort reform. ATRA's membership comprises nonprofits, small and large companies, as well as state and national trade, business, and professional associations.