Conservative Movement

Tort Reform Lawsuit Abuse

By J. Wesley ⋅ April 5, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

I think tort reform is one of the most underutilized issues for Republicans.  One of the first things they should do is stop talking about torts.  The average American has only a vague notion of what a tort is or else thinks it’s a pastry.  You don’t get an emotional response from people by attacking pastries.  (Though you might get a laugh, if you did it in a clown suit or were really animated about it.)

 But people do get fired up about stupid lawsuits.  Homeowners and small business owners understand the fear of being sued.  We should talk about lawsuit abuse.  There are so many examples out there, and people react strongly to them; it offends their sense of justice.  We need to emphasize the collective price we all pay for goods and services so lawyers and plaintiffs can enrich themselves.

There is no limit to the upsides on this.  By fixing the tort problem, Republicans would simultaneously:

1. Lower medical costs by reducing the ridiculous amount of money doctors and pharma companies pay in insurance. Plus, reduce medical costs because doctors would no longer need to give pointless CYA medical tests just to defend against later accusations of neglect.

2. Lower the cost of doing business in a host of other industries for similar reasons.

3. Shore up Republican support in the business community.

4. Defund one of the best-heeled wings of the Democratic Party — trial lawyers.

 Where’s the bad?  I think this could be a real sleeper issue if the conservative movement and the Republicans got behind it. We have the network in place to “raise the public consciousness” on this.