McHenry Times

Judicial Hellhole: It’s a deserving title for the State of Illinois. As owner of a small advertising company in McHenry County, I am witnessing the devastating consequences that lawsuit abuse has wrought on my local community. It’s painful to see friends and colleagues – many I have known for years, forced to cut back or even close doors due to lawsuits waged by the uncaring whims of greed engulfed trial attorneys. High taxes, excessive regulations, and lawsuit abuse combine as a deadly blow to any business trying to stay afloat as the tides of economic insecurity continue to rise.

It is important more people are aware of this issue. The merit of a frivolous lawsuit doesn’t even matter. Instead, what matters to predatory trial attorneys is if there’s a payout in the end. Small businesses can be targeted through lawsuits initiated by lawyers themselves, seeking nothing more than to pad their own pockets. Many who do not own a business may think they are immune to the effects of lawsuit abuse. However, frivolous lawsuits force entire industries to raise prices resulting in fewer jobs, and more layoffs. I find it inconceivable that our state allows trial lawyers to concoct new and obscure legal theories so that they can take the livelihoods and savings of our local business owners for themselves.

The American Tort Reform Foundation ranks Illinois as one of the worst legal jurisdictions in the country, labeling it a “Judicial Hellhole”. When businesses in our state must constantly fend off legal battles left and right, it should come as a shock to no one. It is time our state leaders reverse the freedoms afforded to greed obsessed trial attorneys. The economy is truly suffering enough.