The Florida Chapter of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (FL CALA) held a press conference last week in Tallahassee to honor three state lawmakers with its annual Floridians Against Lawsuit Abuse Courageous Legislator for Civil Justice Reform award.
Senators Tom Leek and Jay Collins, along with State Representative Toby Overdorf, were recognized for their consistent and strong support in curbing frivolous lawsuits and championing essential civil justice reforms.
The press conference also served as a platform to highlight a growing concern: the current push to repeal significant reforms that were established during the 2023 legislative session. FL CALA emphasized the considerable effort invested by both the Governor and the legislature over the past five years to reshape Florida’s civil justice landscape, questioning the motives behind the four sets of bills now aimed at undoing much of this progress.
“We must consider the fundamental question, ‘Quo Bono?’ – Who benefits from dismantling these reforms?” stated Tom Gaitens, Florida Executive Director Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA).
The organization pointed to the significant financial influence of the Trial Lobby in Tallahassee, suggesting their generous spending this cycle is aimed at reversing recent successes in civil justice reform, despite the positive outcomes already being observed.
FL CALA presented evidence of the positive economic impact of the 2023 tort reform bills. They noted that ten homeowner insurance providers did not seek rate increases, while eight others requested rate reductions.
Furthermore, Florida experienced an overall rate increase of only 1%, the lowest in the nation, even during a severe hurricane season.
The reforms enacted between 2021 and 2023 have also led to Florida’s removal from the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) annual ‘Judicial Hellholes’ list.
Despite the substantial ongoing costs associated with frivolous lawsuits, estimated at over $5000 annually for a family of four, FL CALA highlighted the intense lobbying efforts of billboard attorneys to introduce bills that would obstruct further meaningful tort reform.
The organization cited the economic repercussions of frivolous lawsuits in the Tampa and St. Petersburg areas alone, amounting to over $3 billion in lost revenue and nearly 38,000 jobs.
They argued that repealing the progress made would not serve the best interests of the people of Florida.
“This underscores the importance of recognizing legislators who champion the interests of the people of Florida,” Gaitens stated. “Unlike those who can offer substantial financial incentives, we can only strive to inform and educate the public about the critical need for civil justice reform to restore fairness and balance to the system.”
The recognition of Senators Leek and Collins, and Representative Overdorf, signals FL CALA’s commitment to acknowledging and supporting lawmakers who prioritize civil justice reform and the economic well-being of Florida residents. The organization vowed to continue its efforts to educate the public and advocate against the repeal of the progress achieved in recent years.
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