State Legislature News
Rising auto insurance rates in Georgia spark calls for tort reform
Georgia drivers are facing a sharp increase in auto insurance premiums, with the state now ranking among the top five in the nation for the highest rates.
Lt. Gov. Jones: Looking forward to ‘sensible lawsuit reform that will benefit our growing business community’
Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Governor Brian Kemp and other legislators in working towards implementing "sensible lawsuit reform" to support the state's business community. This statement was made on August 22.
Latest News
Tort reform advocates say Ga. legislators who double as attorneys may influence policy in their own favor
By R. B. Pepalis | Aug 28, 2024
Proponents of tort reform argue that members of the Georgia State Legislature, who also actively practice law, may influence policy in favor of the trial bar at the expense of Georgia businesses and consumers.
Kemp: ‘We took the first meaningful steps’ on tort reform last session
By R. B. Pepalis | Aug 22, 2024
Gov. Brian Kemp announced during the 2024 Georgia Chamber Congressional Luncheon that the state has initiated steps towards legal system reform with the passage of HB 1114, the Data Analysis for Tort Reform Act, in the last session.
Policy analyst: Frivolous lawsuits ‘have real negative economic consequences’
By M. N. Tirado | Jun 26, 2024
Georgia Lawmakers Prioritize Tort Reform Amid Rising Legal Costs
GMTA’s campaign to stop lawsuit abuse raises question: ‘What is Wrong with Georgia?’
By Donna Rolando | Apr 26, 2024
The $1.7 billion verdict against Ford Motor Company for a 2014 rollover crash that killed a Georgia couple—considered the state’s largest award ever—has become the poster child for lawsuit reform.
ATA vice president, in dogged fight against seatbelt gag rule: ‘Persistence often pays off’
By Donna Rolando | Apr 25, 2024
With wind in its sails from the recent repeal of Indiana’s “seatbelt gag rule’’—and other victories nationwide, the American Trucking Association (ATA) has pledged to keep the momentum going on a similar reversal in Georgia.
Report finds Morgan & Morgan spent $24.4 million on advertisements in Georgia in 2023
By J. D. Suayan | Apr 24, 2024
The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) has released a report revealing that the law firm Morgan & Morgan expended $24,413,237 on legal services advertisements in Georgia in 2023. ATRA President Sherman "Tiger" Joyce interpreted this as indicative of Georgia's "struggling legal climate and need for tort reform." The report was published on April 11.
Increase in GA car insurance rates show ‘real-life implications’ of state’s lawsuit climate, says Taxpayer Protection Alliance president
By C.D. Marsden | Mar 26, 2024
David Williams, the president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said that a 22% increase in Georgia car insurance rates last year is a result of the state’s legal climate.
Taxpayers Protection Alliance president: Mass tort litigation 'is a suck in the economy'
By GA News Gazette | Mar 22, 2024
David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), recently expressed concerns over mass tort litigation's impact on the economy during an episode of the Business of America podcast. He pointed out that in Georgia, attorneys can take advantage of loopholes such as the state's "seat belt gag rule," leading to increased insurance costs.
American Tort Reform Association announces Georgia's top place in U.S. 'Judicial Hellhole' rankings
By GA News Gazette | Mar 21, 2024
The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) has declared Georgia as the leading "judicial hellhole" in the country for 2023/2024. This classification is due to what the association refers to as "excessive, 'nuclear' verdicts, expanded premises liability, and questionable decisions by the Georgia Supreme Court." Governor Brian Kemp has advocated for tort reform to aid Georgia's consumers and small businesses. However, the state legislature's efforts towards tort reform have primarily targeted the trucking industry so far.
OPINION: Unfair and Outdated: Repeal Georgia's Seatbelt Gag Rule
By GA News Gazette Editorial Board | Mar 20, 2024
Georgia's civil justice system is choked by a relic from a bygone era: the seatbelt gag rule. This law prevents defendants in car accident lawsuits from introducing evidence that the plaintiffs were not wearing a seatbelt. This law is built on outdated science, creates an unfair disadvantage for defendants, and strains the system it aims to protect.
Taxpayers Protection Alliance president says 'litigation really is a suck in the economy’ as report shows $5k Georgia 'tort tax'
By C.D. Marsden | Mar 16, 2024
David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), said that “tort litigation really is a suck in the economy” and “we can’t afford that.” His comments come after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced on March 12 that overall inflation in Georgia increased by 3.2% over the past year, while the cost of car insurance outpaced that by 644%.
Trucking association president: Seat belt gag rule, still living in Georgia, is "a legacy of a bygone era"
By R. B. Pepalis | Mar 13, 2024
The president of the nation's largest trucking industry association said so-called "seatbelt gag rules," which prevent jurors presiding over an auto accident lawsuit from knowing whether the injured party was wearing one, are outdated and lead to unfair jury verdicts.
Car insurance costs rise 644% more than overall inflation costs, BLS reports show
By D. L. Deener | Mar 13, 2024
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced on March 12 that car insurance costs have increased by 20.6% since February 2023, which is more than 640% than the overall inflation rate during the same period.
Atlanta Apartment Association President: "Jackpot jury verdicts" to blame for Georgia's business reputation "losing its luster"
By A. K. Howerter | Mar 12, 2024
The president of Atlanta's largest association of multifamily housing owners says lawsuits and "jackpot jury verdicts" are hurting Georgia's reputation in the business community, driving investors and entrepreneurs to look to other states.
Study finds Georgia households losing thousands due to tort lawsuits
By M. N. Tirado | Mar 11, 2024
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) recently published a study detailing the economic repercussions of excessive lawsuits on Georgia consumers. The research revealed that such abuses within the legal system are costing Georgia households thousands of dollars annually.
SB 415 to crack down on uninsured Georgia drivers as policyholders face hefty costs
By A. A. Sanchez | Mar 5, 2024
Insurance companies in Georgia, grappling with a surge in lawsuits, have escalated the cost of coverage. This has prompted many Georgians to abandon their insurance entirely. Although Georgia Senate Bill (SB) 415 targets these uninsured drivers, it fails to address tort reform measures that could lead insurance companies to lower their prices.
Excessive litigation imposes higher costs on Georgia consumers
By L. E. Bushouse | Mar 5, 2024
The rising number of lawsuits in Georgia is leading to a phenomenon known as "social inflation," compelling businesses to increase their prices due to escalating liability costs. While tort reform could potentially alleviate this financial strain on Georgia consumers, some reform initiatives have been unsuccessful in the state legislature.
Lt. Gov. Jones: Tort reform bill will 'provide the critically important aid to Georgia’s business community'
By A. K. Howerter | Feb 29, 2024
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R-Ga.) has announced that Senate Bill 426 (SB 426) aims to safeguard Georgia's businesses from potential exploitation of the legal system. The bill, which recently secured approval from Georgia's Senate, is designed to curtail direct action lawsuits.