Press Releases

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2006

For More Information Contact: Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Linda S. Woggon, Vice President, Governmental Affairs
Julie Wagner Feasel, Vice President, Communications
614-228-4201

New Study Ranks Ohio at Number Five
in Quality of Civil Justice System

COLUMBUS – A new study reports that Ohio is near the top of the list, ranking fifth among all 50 states for the quality of its civil justice system. Ohio’s ranking in the new study is certain to have a positive impact on how businesses view Ohio and on the state’s business climate.

This study – U.S. Tort Liability Index, published by the California-based Pacific Research Institute – ranks which states have relatively high tort costs, and which have enacted reforms to better position themselves as destinations for business relocation and future economic growth.

“As a leading advocate for tort reform in the state, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce is pleased that its work and that of the Ohio General Assembly has allowed Ohio to rank fifth in the U.S. Tort Liability Index,” said Andrew E. Doehrel, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “The ranking shows that much has been accomplished in the way of ensuring that Ohio has a fair and predictable legal system.”

The Ohio Chamber was a major supporter of legislation such as comprehensive civil justice reforms (SB 80), liability protections from obesity lawsuits (HB 350), a response to Ohio’s asbestos litigation crisis (HB 292), and protections against frivolous lawsuits based on exposure to silica and mixed dust (HB 342). The passage of these bills in 2004 and 2005 led to Ohio’s high ranking.

Many factors were weighed to determine these rankings, including monetary losses, monetary caps, substantive legal reforms, reforms in procedures and rules, as well as other factors (the existence of venues called “judicial hellholes” where it is difficult for a defendant to get a fair trial, the ratio of attorneys per dollar of gross state product, and the total number of civil cases per 100,000 residents).

“We’ve always been a supporter of civil justice reform because lawsuit abuse does more than injure corporations,” Doehrel continued. “It can also damage the reputation of the whole state as a good place to do business.”

“Even though Ohio ranked high in this study, we must be on the constant watch for efforts by plaintiff’s lawyers to create new legal loopholes for lawsuit abuse,” Doehrel added.
The full study can be found at www.americanjusticepartnership.org.

With 4,000 members ranging from small businesses to international companies, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce represents Ohio’s business voice. As the state’s leading business advocate and resource, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce aggressively champions free enterprise, economic competitiveness and growth for the benefit of all Ohioans.