Louisiana Group Says Excessive Tort Costs Deprived State Of 50K Jobs

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.