Cross posted from Illinois Deserves the Truth by Jason Held
If you listened to the "tort reformers" in Illinois you would believe that the sky is falling anytime anyone stands up for the rights of Illinoisans to have their day in court. They spend millions of dollars to push this message. While these costly campaigns go to change public opinion about the civil justice system, a recent poll from the St Louis Dispatch shows that changing the civil justice system is NOT important to Illinois voters.
Only 1% of the people polled thought changes to the Illinois' civil litigation system is the most (or second most) important issue we face. For the people that thought it was a main concern, republican males, came in stark contrast to women, democrats and independents, who did not choose this issue at all, but instead focused on issues like balancing the budget, education funding and building infrastructure.
Strangely enough if you listened to "tort reformers," changes to the civil justice system is a top concern for everyone. I guess they are wrong (as they are about so, so many other things.)
Bruce Kohen, President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, was right on the mark, when he said in a recent article,
While changing our civil justice system may be a desired goal of big business and the insurance companies, it isn't seen as an important issue by the people of Illinois.
I couldn't agree with you more! Plus, I don't think that these groups have my best interest in mind. Do you?
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