Letter to the Editor: Legal climate affects business

Times-Picayune, Opinion, Louisiana  |  February 4, 2009

Re: "Business finds state's legal climate chilly," Other Opinions, Jan. 14.

Columnist James Gill raises some interesting points. He referred to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform's 2008 survey of senior attorneys at America's largest employers, which ranked Louisiana 49th overall for fair legal climate. There is another 2008 survey worth mentioning conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, a nationally known research company. It surveyed 260 Louisiana business executives, large and small, from all sectors of private business throughout the state. The results showed:

-- 89 percent of respondents said the number of frivolous lawsuits in the state is a serious problem;

-- 94 percent of respondents said the threat of a lawsuit is a factor in their company's business decisions;

-- 59 percent of respondents said they have seen an increase in frivolous lawsuits in the state in the past three to five years; and

-- 91 percent of respondents said there needs to be a change to the current lawsuit system.

This survey further indicates a need to improve our civil justice system in Louisiana.

Decisions about maintaining and growing business in the state are impacted by the civil justice system. Texas and Mississippi have recently made strides to improve their legal climates. Louisiana needs to do the same.

Jim Harris

Coalition For Common Sense

Baton Rouge