The American Tort Reform Association announced that Georgia has been removed from its Judicial Hellholes rankings after Gov. Brian Kemp signed S.B. 68 and S.B. 69 to curb litigation abuses, though Cobb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties remain on the Watch List for high “nuclear” verdicts and questionable rulings.
According to ATRA’s report, Georgia’s removal from the list is attributed to comprehensive legal reforms spearheaded by state Senator John F. Kennedy. Despite this progress, Atlanta-area courts have been added to the Watch List after significant verdicts, including a $2.1 billion award in Cobb County. The reforms are designed to curb phantom damage awards, permit seat belt evidence in auto cases, and mandate disclosure of third-party litigation funders. ATRA emphasizes that consistent enforcement is necessary for continued progress.
The Perryman Group’s analysis for ATRA highlights that excessive litigation results in a tort tax of $1,415 per person in Georgia, totaling $5,660 annually for a family of four and eliminating nearly 135,000 jobs statewide each year. Metro Atlanta experiences an even higher tort tax of $2,180 per person.
The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform reported that the costs and compensation within the U.S. tort system exceeded $529 billion in 2022, equating to over $4,200 per household and representing 2.1 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Commercial tort liability accounts for 57 percent of these total costs.
Founded in 1986 as a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated exclusively to reforming the civil justice system through education and legislative efforts, ATRA publishes annual reports like Judicial Hellholes to highlight jurisdictions where civil justice systems may favor plaintiffs over defendants.
