We briefly mentioned the Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) in our last blog and its efforts to discredit the McDonald’s “hot coffee case.” This is just the latest in a long line of tactics that present a distorted picture of plaintiffs and their lawsuits against large corporations.
In addition to social media, the ILR publishes and distributes literature pushing for tort reform in courts and legislatures across the country. The truth behind the ILR and its tort reform agenda are that it wants to shield corporations from liability and weaken the civil jury system. Specifically, the ILR wants to reduce discovery and place statutory caps on damage awards. The result would be that victims physically injured by corporations would have limited access to justice and a lesser chance of a fair recovery.
The ILR is part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a private entity funded by large corporations. Over the years, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and the American Council of Life Insurers have contributed $1 million each to advance the ILR’s agenda. The Huffington Post reported that in 2001, the ILR pumped over $5 million into state election races, targeting judges in states who “rendered verdicts against one or more of the companies contributing to the effort.”
Limiting access to the courts when you suffer an injury is not the way to reform the judicial system in America. Our personal injury lawyers can help you receive fair compensation if you suffer harm from another party’s negligence. Contact our office to speak with an experienced lawyer.
