Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, announced that Governor Brian Kemp has signed significant tort and lawsuit abuse reform into law. "It's a great day for Georgia," Clark said in a post on X.
"It's a great day at the Georgia Capitol, and it's a great day to be in Georgia," said Clark, President & CEO. "Gov. Kemp just signed real tort reform, real lawsuit abuse reform."
The Georgia State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 69 (SB 69), which is a key component of Governor Kemp's tort reform package. According to the bill, third-party litigation funding (TPLF) will be regulated. This practice involves external financiers investing in lawsuits in exchange for a portion of any settlement or award. The new law mandates these financiers to register with the state and prohibits foreign adversaries from funding litigation, aiming to protect plaintiffs from potential exploitation and reduce undue influence in civil proceedings.
Clark's April 21 statement
| X.com
On February 7, 2025, Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT) released a poll indicating that 72% of Georgia voters believe lawsuit abuse contributes to rising costs of goods and services. Conducted by Public Opinion Strategies from February 2-5, 2025, the poll showed bipartisan support for addressing lawsuit abuse: 88% of Republicans, 64% of Independents, and 62% of Democrats agreed on its importance. Additionally, it found that 85% of voters consider legislative action on lawsuit abuse crucial to eliminating hidden costs for consumers. Furthermore, the survey revealed that 82% of those who have used personal injury lawyers support reforms to the current system.
A study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform released on January 24 highlighted that rising tort costs in Georgia are increasingly burdening households by driving up insurance premiums and overall living expenses. In 2022, the state's tort costs reached nearly $20 billion, averaging over $2,000 per household. These expenses stem from civil litigation claims compensation and administrative costs affecting both businesses and consumers.
According to a survey conducted by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) and Munich Re US reported on InsuranceRateReporter.com on February 18, plaintiff lawyer tactics such as TPLF and jury anchoring significantly contribute to rising insurance costs with an estimated $529 billion impact on the U.S. economy. The survey found that while 69% of Americans believe these practices increase insurance premiums, only a small portion is aware of them; with 75% unfamiliar with jury anchoring and 70% not recognizing TPLF.
Clark has served as President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber since 2010. Before this role, he held key positions in state government including Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Economic Development. A graduate of Georgia Southern University and Georgia College & State University, Clark published his first book "The CEO Imperative" in 2023.