Let's tackle lawsuit abuse in 2012!

Happy New Year, Project Lawsuit Abuse readers!

Here’s hoping the holidays brought you all rest and relaxation because it’s time to make 2012 the year of legal reform.

You probably don’t need a reminder, but it doesn’t hurt to remind everyone that the fight against lawsuit abuse is more important than ever. Here are a few of the facts:

• The U.S. tort system cost $248.1 billion in 2009, which translates to $808 per person. (The 2010 Update on U.S. Tort Cost Trends, Towers Watson, 2010)

• The National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine gives our nation's medical liability environment a grade of C-. (The Medical Liability Reform Briefing Book, Health Coalition on Liability and Access, May 2011)

• Even after adjusting for inflation, tort costs per capita have risen by a factor of nearly eight between 1950 and 2009. (The 2010 Update on U.S. Tort Cost Trends, Towers Watson, 2010)

All in all, lawsuit abuse costs. Frivolous lawsuits and the abuse of our courts are plaguing our economy and health care system. Let’s do something about it in 2012.