Pennsylvania’s notorious legal climate has resulted in the Commonwealth jumping to the top spot of the American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2023 Judicial Hellholes® report. The Commonwealth is tied with Georgia for the No. 1 ranking, up one spot from ATRF’s 2022 ranking. ATRF attributes Pennsylvania’s top position on the national list to the escalating number of nuclear…
Coalition Updates: Community
Candidates Funded by Trial Bar Sweep Statewide Judicial Races
Democratic candidates funded by the trial bar came out victorious in the November 7th General Election – taking all of the statewide open judicial seats. On the ballot this year was one state Supreme Court seat, two open Superior Court seats and one seat on the Commonwealth Court. In the closely watched race for the Supreme…
PCCJR Judicial Voter Guide a Key Resource for Judicial Elections
Next week, Pennsylvania voters will be faced with a crucial choice – one that will impact our state for decades to come. On the ballot this year is an open seat on the state Supreme Court as well as several other statewide judicial posts. The voter’s selection will determine the Commonwealth’s future legal landscape – will…
House Narrowly Votes Down Proposal to Better Determine Impact of Venue Rule Change on State Supported Home and Community Based Services
The state House of Representatives once again passed on an opportunity to better understand the real-world effects of last year’s medical malpractice venue rule change. This week, House Resolution 165 was before the entire chamber for consideration. The resolution directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to conduct a study on the effect of workforce shortages…
House and Senate Inundated with Legislation to Increase Litigation and Benefit Plaintiffs’ Attorneys
This year has seen an unprecedented increase in bills filed containing private rights of action. A private right of action specifically authorizes bringing a lawsuit as an enforcement mechanism for the subject matter of the bill. Some bills contain dual enforcement mechanisms that allow a government agency or the Attorney General to enforce, but also allow…
PCCJR Calls for Open and Transparent Review of Med Mal Venue Rule Reversal
In an opinion piece in the Legal Intelligencer, Curt Schroder, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, advocates for a transparent review of the effects of the medical malpractice venue rule reversal on healthcare and the legal climate in Pennsylvania. A key passage accompanying the rule change calls for a reevaluation two…