Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse highlights Georgia legislature’s tort reform recognition

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) announced that the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) has named the Georgia legislature a "Tort Reform Trailblazer" for passing 2024 reforms addressing phantom damages, jury anchoring, and third-party litigation funding.

According to The Center Square, Georgia lawmakers have enacted one of the most comprehensive tort reform packages in the country this year. These reforms address key issues such as phantom damages, excessive jury anchoring, and third-party litigation funding. ATRA praised the legislation for its role in protecting small businesses, job creators, and consumers from the escalating costs associated with abusive litigation.

A significant portion of Georgia’s reforms focused on phantom damages in civil cases. The Georgia Recorder reports that the new law limits medical damages in lawsuits to actual amounts paid rather than inflated list prices. Advocates say this ensures juries calculate damages based on true costs, preventing inflated verdicts that previously increased insurance premiums and created financial strain on businesses.

Georgia’s legislation also targeted jury anchoring practices. According to Law360, the reform bans these tactics and requires evidence-based arguments for damages instead. Supporters argue that eliminating jury anchoring will reduce nuclear verdicts' likelihood, which have destabilized liability insurance markets and threatened local businesses' financial viability.

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse is a grassroots advocacy network dedicated to exposing and reducing lawsuit abuse across the United States. According to its mission statement, CALA educates the public about excessive litigation's economic and social costs and supports reforms restoring fairness to the legal system. The group partners with national organizations like ATRA to highlight reform successes and advocate for policies that strengthen transparency, protect consumers, and reduce abusive lawsuits.