Victor Gomez
WASHINGTON – A legal reform group is expanding its footprint to four more states.
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse Executive Director Victor Gomez says the group, which describes itself as a “grassroots coalition of small business owners, consumers and tort reform champions,” is increasing its advocacy efforts in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Virginia.
“For far too long the trial bar has taken advantage of the little guy,” Gomez said. “CALA works tirelessly to ensure that Americans are aware of the abuses in our civil justice system and how to advocate for necessary reforms to put money back in their wallets and keep our small businesses open.
“According to our annual economic impact report, lawsuit abuse costs each family in the United States $5,597 annually, and as a result creates job losses and business closures; it’s time for us to fight back.”
CALA has worked for 25 years with a focus on California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia because of “the lack of tort reform in those states.”
“Now, we’re starting to see that in other states as well in the last couple of years,” Gomez said. “There has been legislation passed that is going to have an impact on tort issues in those states. It’s rampant in some of these other states, and we’ll find opportunities for reform there in those states.”
Gomez said it really has been a variety of issues CALA has seen in these states.
“Privacy-related issues continue to be a big problem,” he said. “But really, it’s been the chipping away at these issues. It’s a broad number of issues. Specifically, the cost of litigation, the tying up of the legal systems in those states and the impact it’s having on everyday Americans.
“It’s all about affordability. It’s a national issue, and it’s definitely an issue in this election.”
Gomez said the lack of tort reform has a direct impact on consumers.
“These courts are being tied up so much it’s now having an impact on true issues and cases that really do have merit,” he said. “One of the biggest drivers is the appetite for legislation … to consider legislation regarding costs for consumers. Legislation has been introduced in those states that have an impact on businesses and consumers. Businesses are already having a tough time.”
CALA says it exists to protect consumers from the predatory schemes of the trial bar and acts as a watchdog against the abuses of our legal system to restore balance and fairness.
And while many states enacted reforms, Gomez says there’s a lot more to be done as Americans nationwide are grappling with rising costs of everyday goods and services. CALA also says states that have enacted tort reforms to restore balance to their civil justice systems have seen increased economic performance over the years.
“These reforms also protect the very consumers who matter most in any fair system: the people who are legitimately harmed,” Gomez said. “By clearing out the abuse that clogs the courts and inflates costs for everyone, legal reform preserves access to justice for genuine victims while reducing excess costs that are burdensome to families and employers.
“A fair and balanced legal system should promote accountability, impartial justice, and economic prosperity, not enrich the trial bar at the expense of working Americans.”
Gomez said ideas spread quickly, and bad ideas spread even faster.
“Looking at states like Florida, California and Louisiana,” he said. “These trial attorneys there are telling attorneys in other states, ‘Hey, these laws are good for us.’ What we’re seeing is these trial attorneys are starting to collaborate with each other, telling each other that ‘this piece of legislation passed here that helped us expand our work. So, we are going to carry it to other states.’
“We want to shine the light on those abuses because these states, any state, could step in. There could be other states as well where we step in and focus our efforts.”
