Dupage Policy Journal

Some Republican lawmakers in Illinois have had it with what they call "frivolous lawsuits" which they believe are not only costing the taxpayers a substantial amount of money, but also have an impact on the state's attractiveness to new businesses. 

State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) said it was no surprise the state moved up on the American Tort Reform Association's "Judicial Hellhole" list. 

According to the American Museum of Tort Law, tort law civilly protects people who have been harmed or injured due to negligence or intentional actions such as assault, car accidents or medical malpractice. 

"The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association is one of the most prolific donators to the campaign funds of members of the majority party. Tort law in state statute is incredibly dry, but it has an impact on this state and ultimately your family's bottom line," Mazzochi wrote on Facebook. "In January of this year, during a lame duck session the Illinois House, on a party line vote, passed legislation making it even more lucrative to pursue frivolous lawsuits. Even the governor took issue with the bill and the impact it would have on healthcare and business cost, issuing the first ever full veto. He signed a similar bill later in March. When I say the system works for the politically connected at the expense of everyday people, this is exactly what I mean."

This year, Illinois placed fifth on the "Judicial Hellhole" list. The Center Square reported that costs of tort lawsuits in Illinois surpassed $9 billion in wages and $27.5 billion in economic output. State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) has mentioned this issue could prevent businesses from operating in Illinois. 

According to the Judicial Hellholes, a 2019 Illinois Supreme Court decision that plaintiffs in Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) cases do not need to claim they were harmed could be a reason behind the uptick in tort cases.