Data released Tuesday from the tort reform group Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch says excessive civil court costs led to the loss of nearly 50,000 jobs in Louisiana and $3 billion in personal income losses.
The group also says excessive lawsuits are costing Louisiana residents $1,200 each in the form of what the group calls a "tort tax" and state government losses of $270 million and $225 million for local governments. The state’s legal climate also cost the state’s gross domestic product approximately $5 billion.
According to the data, both of Louisiana’s two largest metropolitan areas -- Baton Rouge and New Orleans -- were hit hard economically by the state’s tort system.