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PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein said the contest showcased Pennsylvania’s excellence in manufacturing and brand loyalty. PHOTO/PACAST
Pa. tops list of ‘Judicial Hellholes’, report says
Ed Gruver//December 11, 2024//
Pennsylvania is the biggest “judicial hellhole” in the U.S. and has the worst legal climate in the country, a new report states.
Released by the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF), the 2024-2025 Judicial Hellholes report noted the commonwealth’s high rate of excessive litigation and escalating “nuclear verdicts” of $10 million or more awarded to plaintiffs by Philadelphia juries. Excessive litigation has huge economic implications nationally, costing $330 billion annually, eliminating 4.8 million jobs, and slowing innovation and economic growth across the U.S.
“Pennsylvania’s legal system is overly conducive to frivolous lawsuits and lacks the protections needed to create a fair, balanced, and common-sense system,” PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein said in a statement. “The business community supports legal reforms that prevent lawsuit abuse while protecting the right of legitimate plaintiffs to seek justice. Without these reforms, Pennsylvania will remain at a significant competitive disadvantage for attracting employers.”
The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are cited by the report as the reason for Pennsylvania’s No. 1 ranking, pointing to liability-expanding rulings and record-setting damage awards. The report reveals the following findings:
- Pennsylvania residents pay a “tort tax” of $1,431 annually, and the state loses more than 171,000 jobs each year due to excessive litigation.
- Medical malpractice lawsuits surged following a state Supreme Court decision that reversed a long-standing rule discouraging forum shopping, causing healthcare costs to rise and limiting access to care.
- Philadelphia courts lead the nation in nuclear verdicts, with jury awards over $10 million becoming increasingly common.
The ATRF has published its Judicial Hellholes report annually since 2002.
