Jobs Agenda: Legal Reform
The U.S. Chamber works to end lawsuit abuse and ensure that businesses receive the fair, efficient, and consistent justice system they deserve.
The Facts
- America’s civil justice system is the world’s most expensive, with a direct cost in 2009 of $248.1 billion, or 1.74% of the U.S. GDP.
- The tort cost per person was $808 in 2009, a sevenfold increase from 1950 when adjusted for inflation.
- While small businesses are responsible for 64% of all new American jobs, lawsuits cost them $105.4 billion in 2008—money that could be invested in more jobs, higher wages, or better benefits.
- Two out of three senior executives and litigators at America’s largest employers believe that the litigation environment in a state is likely to impact important business decisions at their companies, including whether to grow jobs or do business in a state.
The U.S. Chamber Agenda to End Lawsuit Abuse and Expand Legal Advocacy
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Advocate for commonsense legal reforms on Capitol Hill and with federal regulatory agencies:
- The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) fights for a proactive agenda and works to defend against liability-expanding regulatory and legislative actions.
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Target lawsuit abuse in states and jurisdictions in need of reform:
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ILR works to rein in overreaching state attorneys general who initiate crusades against one industry after another, often working in tandem with personal injury lawyers “deputized” to file
lawsuits on behalf of state governments. ILR also advances a wide variety of state-level legal reform measures and conducts voter education campaigns in key states.
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ILR works to rein in overreaching state attorneys general who initiate crusades against one industry after another, often working in tandem with personal injury lawyers “deputized” to file
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Fight the spread of problematic international litigation trends:
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ILR educates policymakers and thought leaders from outside the United States about the consequences of permitting U.S.-style litigation features, such as class action lawsuits, in their
countries. ILR also highlights abuses in international litigation filed against businesses in the United States and around the world.
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ILR educates policymakers and thought leaders from outside the United States about the consequences of permitting U.S.-style litigation features, such as class action lawsuits, in their
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Defend business in the courts:
- The National Chamber Litigation Center (NCLC), the Chamber’s public policy law firm, defends business in the courts on legal issues of national significance, including punitive damages, class actions, securities litigation, labor and employment, environmental law, and patchwork immigration regulations.
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Fight anti-business regulations and statutes:
- NCLC directly sues overzealous state, federal, and private regulators.
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From FreeEnterprise.com |
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Lawsuit abuse is having a devastating impact on our society. Get the facts at the Faces of Lawsuit Abuse website. |
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The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) is a national campaign, representing the nation's business community, with the critical mission of making America's legal system simpler, fairer and faster for everyone. |
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NATIONAL CHAMBER LITIGATION CENTER The National Chamber Litigation Center (NCLC) is the public policy law firm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. NCLC advocates for fair treatment of business in the courts and before regulatory agencies. |
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