Illinois Counties Cited in Tort Reform Group’s Top ‘Judicial Hellholes’

The fourth annual “Judicial Hellholes” report, a ranking of state courts that are sought by plaintiffs because they are judged by critics to have the toughest environment for defendants in civil liability lawsuits, was released recently and Illinois again had the dubious distinction of being a leader.

The report is issued by the American Tort Reform Association, a coalition of business and professional groups that supports tort reform.

According to ATRA, most state courts dispense justice in a fair and impartial manner. “Judicial Hellholes are a few, but powerful, courts that have a disproportionately harmful impact on civil litigation,” in ATRA’s estimation. The top 2005 Judicial Hellholes as cited by ATRA are: 1. Rio Grande Valley and Gulf Coast, Texas 2. Cook County, Illinois 3. West Virginia 4. Madison County, Illinois 5. St. Clair County, Illinois and 6. South Florida.

This year’s only “Dishonorable Mention” goes to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for “four bad decisions in four months.”

“Litigation tourists, who neither lived nor were injured in these jurisdictions, are guided by their personal injury lawyers who seek out these places because they know they will produce a positive outcome, an excessive verdict or settlement, a favorable precedent, or both. This is venue shopping run wild,” said the group in a statement.

The group notes that areas can be dropped from the list if they enact reforms or elect new judges. Last year, Mississippi and St. Louis were delisted.