The lawsuit climate is so bad in New York City (recently named a “judicial hellhole” by the American Tort Reform Association) that New York City finds it more cost efficient to settle most of the lawsuits against it, rather than going to a jury trial.  The result of this policy (and, more importantly, this climate) is that last year alone, the City paid out $563 Million in payouts.  Just to remind you…that $563 Million is your tax dollars which must be paid, often to avoid an even more expensive jury trial.

The full article can be found here.

As one commenter said, “forget the lottery, the real payout is in suing the City.”

The American Tort Reform Foundation has named New York City as a “Judicial Hellhole” in a report released earlier today.  New York City and New Mexico joined the list this year along with perennial “winners” South Florida, West Virginia, Cook County (Illinois) and Atlantic County (New Jersey).

“Lawsuit abuse continues to have a negative impact on both the nation’s economy and its health care system,” said ATRF preisdnet Tiger Joyce.  “Unfortunately for those living in Hellholes jurisdictions during this economic downturn, it can be that much harder to find or heep a job and get critical health care services as employers and doctors are driven away by the threat of costly litigation.”

We, at NYLR, couldn’t agree more.

Click here for  copy of the news release and click here to see the full report (PDF file.  Right click and select download as).

The Sunday (December 13, 2009) Utica Observer Dispatch published an opinion article written by New Yorkers for Lawsuit Reform.  You can read it here.

New Yorkers for Lawsuit Reform testified last week at a hearing on Medical Malpractice Reform in front of the New York State Senate’s Standing committees on Insurance, Health and Codes.  Click here to see a copy of our testimony (PDF file.  Right click and select “Save As” to download it to your computer).  To view the whole hearing, click here.  (Caution.  The whole video is more than four hours long).

The Lockport Union-Sun & Journal agrees with the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and reruns the D&C editorial on their pages in an endorsement of New Yorkers for Lawsuit Reform’s position.  Click here  to see the story.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle agrees that the time is now to reform New York’s outdated and costly legal system.  “Specifically, New York must do something about the high cost of lawsuits and high-tort litigation risks. They’re costing taxpayers millions of dollars in higher taxes and increased costs for goods, insurance and health care.”

The full editorial can be found here.

New Yorkers for Lawsuit Reform’s executive director, Mark Kriss, also penned an op-ed for the paper which can be found here.