In response to Governor Josh Shapiro’s call for the General Assembly to enact a state False Claims Act in his recent budget address, the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform (PCCJR) held a press conference Wednesday morning to draw attention to the harmful consequences such a law could have for the Commonwealth’s health care providers and small…
Coalition Updates
A Look Ahead at the Remainder of the 2025-26 Legislative Session
The last year of the 2025-26 legislative session is officially underway. Republican Sen. Kim Ward was once again elected to serve as Senate Pro Tempore – the highest ranking Senate officer in the chamber. She has the distinction of being the first woman to hold the position, which she was first elected to by her…
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Highlighted as a Top ‘Judicial Hellhole’
The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas has once again been named one of the country’s worst ‘judicial hellholes.’ The court ranked 5th worst in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2025-26 list. The report cited several issues plaguing the Philadelphia Court, including nuclear verdicts. The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas was home to two of the ‘Top 10 largest corporate…
PA Taxpayers on the Hook for Extreme Natural Disasters Under Proposed Trial Bar Bill
A new bill circulating in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives would significantly expand liability in the Commonwealth with taxpayers footing the bill. The Extreme Weather Recovery Act (EWRA) would allow for uncapped lawsuits against private companies by individuals seeking damages for natural disasters. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform did an analysis…
Voters Choose to Retain Liability Expanding Justices
Tuesday’s election resulted in a return to the status quo for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as voters chose to retain the three justices on the ballot. Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht were all retained overwhelmingly by Pennsylvania voters. The Supreme Court retention election garnered significant publicity as funding poured in to promote…
Senator Dush Demands Answers on Med Mal Venue From Supreme Court
After a hearing on a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to determine matters of venue, introduced by Sen. Chris Dush, Sen. Dush wrote a letter to the Supreme Court demanding to know the outcome of a review of the Court’s rescission of the venue rule prior to election day. Here are excerpts from the letter: “In…