Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC), said that tort reform is a top priority as it addresses key challenges for businesses and healthcare providers and brings balance to legal proceedings. She made this statement in a press release on January 30.
"As a top legislative priority for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, we know the critical importance of this effort to address key challenges faced by businesses and healthcare providers," said Kirkpatrick, President & CEO. "Governor Kemp's proposed legislative package aims to bring balance to legal proceedings and create parity with neighboring states. Recent polling clearly shows that Georgians believe we need to better protect our business climate and the jobs our businesses provide with reasonable tort reform. Everyone should have access to the court system, while also protecting responsible businesses."
The MAC has identified tort reform as a top legislative priority, emphasizing its role in addressing challenges faced by businesses and healthcare providers. Governor Brian Kemp's proposed legislative package seeks to balance legal proceedings and align Georgia's legal environment with neighboring states. Recent polling indicates that Georgians support reasonable tort reform to protect the business climate and jobs while ensuring access to the court system and safeguarding responsible businesses. The Chamber said it will collaborate with the governor's office, legislators, business leaders, and long-time advocates to advance the legislation.
On February 7, 2025, Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT) released a poll showing that 72% of Georgia voters believe lawsuit abuse contributes to rising costs of goods and services, with bipartisan agreement across Republicans (88%), independents (64%), and Democrats (62%). The survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies from February 2-5, 2025, also found that 85% of voters consider it important for the legislature to address lawsuit abuse to eliminate hidden taxes on consumers. Additionally, 82% of individuals who have used personal injury lawyers support reforms to the current system.
A study released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform on January 24 found that rising tort costs in Georgia are placing a growing financial burden on households, driving up insurance premiums and the overall cost of living. In 2022, the state’s tort costs reached nearly $20 billion, averaging over $2,000 per household. These expenses stem from civil litigation, claim compensation, and administrative costs affecting both businesses and consumers.
According to a February 18 post on InsuranceRateReporter.com, a survey by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) and Munich Re US found that plaintiff lawyer tactics such as third-party litigation funding (TPLF) and jury anchoring contribute to rising insurance costs with an estimated $529 billion impact on the U.S. economy. The survey shows that 69% of Americans believe these practices increase insurance premiums while 86% support legal reforms to address them. However, a significant portion of respondents remain unaware of these tactics with 75% unfamiliar with jury anchoring and 70% not recognizing TPLF.
Kirkpatrick is the president and CEO of MAC representing businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions in the region. With over 17 years at MAC she has led key initiatives such as ATL Action for Racial Equity and reimagining Downtown Atlanta while serving as a policy leader fostering business growth and public-private collaboration. Previously she was MAC's chief policy officer and director of environmental engineering at Gold Kist Inc.