Tort Reform in the States: Protecting Consumers and Enhancing Economic Growth in Mississippi

Before the current economic downturn, Missis- sippi enjoyed net increases in new jobs as major companies like Toyota, General Electric, and others opened new man- ufacturing facilities. One of the major reasons for this abil- ity to attract new business is Mississippi's tort reform legislation, the most comprehensive in the United States, which restored the balance between plaintiffs and defen- dants in civil justice cases. One year after the reform became law, medical liability lawsuits were down 91 per- cent from their peak before passage of this reform. Addi- tionally, the state's biggest medical liability writer cut premiums 42 percent. Key to the success of such reform efforts is small business, which can go broke trying to win lawsuits because of the cost of defense and the time involved.