State Must
Continue to Move Forward;
More Legal Reform
Needed
New Study from
Michigan Chamber Foundation
June 7, 2007 LANSING, Mich.
–With Michigan facing significant economic
challenges, now is the time to consider additional
legal reform measures to improve Michigan’s economic
competitiveness, according to a public policy study
released today by the Michigan Chamber Foundation.
“Michigan was once considered a
leader among states in legal reform, but we are
falling behind,” said Jim Barrett, President & CEO
of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “The majority
of states have caught up by enacting reform
legislation, leaving Michigan ranking 22nd in the
best-to-worst legal systems in America.”
“Given
the real, tangible benefits legal reform brings to
Michigan families, health care providers and job
providers, implementing additional legal reforms,
particularly in Michigan’s current economic climate,
is good public policy,” said Wendy Block, Director
of Health Policy & Human Resources for the Michigan
Chamber. “Unfortunately, there are those who wish to
make Michigan the first state in the nation to
legislatively roll back its legal reform measures –
some of which have been the law for more than 20
years.”
The 32-page report, titled Legal
Reform in Michigan – Past, Present and Future, is
intended to inform lawmakers and other opinion
leaders about the legislative history, current
status and future direction of the debate over legal
reform in Michigan. The Michigan Chamber Foundation
study identifies four legal reforms that would
significantly improve Michigan’s legal climate and
deserve serious
- more -consideration:
-
REFORM #1: Limit
contingent attorney fees – To protect injured
claimants from receiving an inadequate recovery
due to lawyers’ demands for an unjustified or
unreasonable portion of an award or settlement.
-
REFORM #2: Provide
incentives to settle – To encourage the
resolution of disputes prior to litigation and
discourage frivolous lawsuits.
-
REFORM #3: Enact “loser
pay” law – To discourage meritless claims and
introduce some fairness to our legal system by
permitting the prevailing party in a civil suit
to recover attorneys’ fees.
-
REFORM #4: Provide for
sanctions for meritless/frivolous claims – To
strengthen a court’s ability to impose
additional sanctions upon the lawyer, law firm
or party that advocates a frivolous claim or
defense in a civil action.
A copy of Legal Reform in Michigan
– Past, Present and Future is available on the
Michigan Chamber’s Web site
(Click Here)
or by clicking on the cover image above.
For a printed copy of the study, contact Betty
McNerney, Director of Communications, at
bmcnerney@michamber.com
or by phone at 517-371-7663.
###
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a
statewide business advocacy organization
representing over 7,000 employers, trade
associations and local chambers of commerce.
