ATLANTA — Governor Brian Kemp believes abusive lawsuits are costing Georgia businesses and resident millions of dollars in payouts, settlements, and higher insurance costs.
Kemp told Channel 2’s Richard Elliot that one of his top priorities at the legislature this year is pushing for tort reform.
The governor wants it, other state leaders want it, but we don’t know yet what that will look like from changing liability laws to placing caps on damages.
At Tuesday morning’s Georgia Chamber “Eggs and Issues” breakfast, Kemp officially announced he was going after lawsuit abuse.
“Tort reform will be my top legislative priority for this upcoming session,” Kemp said.
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He said it’s hurting businesses around the state through payouts, settlements, legal fees and much higher insurance rates.
“I look forward to sharing more about those plans in the coming weeks, but I need your help. Every local or regional chamber in this room has a critical role to play this session to make sure we finally get tort reform done,” Kemp said.
But Georgia’s Trial Lawyers Association pushed back.
In a statement, they said in part, “Innocent Georgians who have been injured or harmed by the wrongful conduct of others deserve to have their legal rights protected without arbitrary government intrusion.”
“Our justice system should not be about jackpots. It should be about justice,” Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark said.
Clark said they’re all for reforming a system that seems rife with abuse that hurts businesses including doctors and hospitals.
“It shouldn’t be legal for two bad guys to come on your property, hurt each other, then you’re blamed and you get sued,” Clark said.
State Democrats declined to comment on this story until they get a chance to see the nuts and bolts of the legislation.
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