Lawsuit Reform
Lawsuit reform is essential to our state’s economic future. West Virginia is currently ranked as the worst state in the nation to start a business. When job providers look at our state’s legal system, they typically choose to take their jobs elsewhere. Chesapeake Energy is a prime example of that. Because of our broken legal system, hundreds of good paying Chesapeake Energy jobs are now heading elsewhere. And thousands more leave every year.
We cannot expect to attract jobs to our state without meaningful lawsuit reform. West Virginia needs to aggressively reform its laws so that they are in-line with other states. We must be able to promise job providers and our citizens that they will have a fair trial.
Right now, West Virginia’s legal system is a hot bed for out-of-state plaintiffs seeking the most favorable lawsuit forum in the nation. As home of three of the seven largest verdicts in the nation for 2007 – totaling nearly $1 billion in damages awards – our state has essentially hung up a sign for all trial lawyers to see: “Open for lawsuits!”
Our leaders have shirked their responsibility of fixing West Virginia’s broken legal system. Our citizens need real lawsuit reform.
