Claims of lawsuit abuse are a myth

There is no evidence of lawsuit abuse in Illinois. In fact, civil filings have fallen by 45% over the past decade. In Cook County, those numbers have declined by 61% since 2010. Yet, Mark Oryszczak continues to promote the false claim that excessive lawsuits are driving up costs for Illinois families and businesses (“State keeps stacking costs on manufacturers,” July 20).

The so-called “tort tax” is a marketing slogan created by insurance and corporate interests, not an economic reality. The analysis cited to support this argument has been criticized by economists, consumer advocates and legal experts for relying on speculative assumptions and nontransparent methods rather than independent, verifiable data. It does not measure the actual costs paid by Illinois residents or demonstrate that lawsuits are responsible for higher prices.

Meanwhile, large corporations and insurance companies continue to post record profits while raising prices on the products and coverage that families rely on every day. Higher costs for goods and services is a nationwide phenomenon. The evidence for the cause points far more convincingly to corporate pricing decisions rather than to Illinois’ laws, which give everyone, even those without great wealth and power, a fair shake in the courts.

What Illinois really has is a misinformation problem.

In truth, our state proves that a strong economy and a robust civil justice system can go hand in hand. CNBC recently ranked Illinois the 12th best state for business, its highest ranking ever and tied for the nation’s largest improvement since 2019. Those results underscore that protecting consumers’ rights, holding wrongdoers financially accountable for the harms they cause and maintaining a competitive business environment are quite compatible. Other states could learn from us.

Michael T. Mertz

President, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association