Your State's Climate, According to U.S. Businesses

Ryan Zempel, Managing Editor of the Institute for Legal Reform ("ILR"), gave us a heads-up on the release of the 2007 US Chamber of Commerce Lawsuit Climate Rankings.  The study explores "how reasonable and balanced the tort liability system is perceived to be by U.S. business."  The rankings are based on interviews with a "nationally representative sample of in-house general counsel or other senior corporate litigators" of companies with annual revenues of at least $100 million. 

According to these lawyers, my state (Texas) is 44th on the list, while Delaware has the best climate in the country and West Virginia has the worst.  Being last on the list has consequences.  The ILR is using television ads in West Virginia to "spotlight legislators for backing trial lawyers over ordinary people."

--Counseller