Florida's "lawyer-driven" lawsuit climate bad for business

There is a “lawyer-driven culture” of suing companies happening across the nation, and it’s not good for business anywhere.

Unfortunately for Florida, the state is ranked 46^th out of 50 in worst states for lawsuits.

The “Magic City,” Miami, is in the top ten of worst cities or municipalities in the entire nation.

Que?! What?!

That infamous attorney ambulance-chasing TV commercial phrase “Yo quiero ser su abogado” is looming large over Miami-Dade County

The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform commissioned The Harris Poll to conduct a survey to access the lawsuit environment around the country.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce presented the poll findings during a press conference with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) in Tallahassee on Wednesday.

The survey of 1,307 attorney and business executives from some of the nation’s top companies, finds that the “legal climate” in Florida is bad for business.

Of those surveyed, 89 percent of those survey said that Florida’s “lawsuit environment is likely to impact” their companies as to where to locate or do business.

“There are so many cases that get brought it seems when even if the person who gets sued is one hundred percent innocent, they look at it and say okay well to be able to defend this it’s going to cost a couple hundred thousand dollars so I’m better off as a business decision cutting a check and having them go away,” said DeSantis “That to me is more of a lawyer driven culture than it is based on people who have actually suffered harm.”

DeSantis says he wants lawsuits to be “based on the clients rather than the attorneys.”

DeSantis also reminded Floridians that the Republican-led legislature addressed the assignment of benefits issue last legislative session, saying that “the legislature did a good job” looking after the interests of policyholders.

“I think you need to have a strong robust system of justice where people can vindicate their rights but that should not be game that is abused to benefit attorneys,” added DeSantis.

 “Despite the low ranking, it’s a new day for Florida’s legal climate,” said Harold Kim, chief operating officer of the Institute for Legal Reform. “Florida’s low ranking reflects its past, not its future, and doesn’t account for recent meaningful reforms spearheaded by Gov. DeSantis and the state legislature.”

Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson echoed DeSantis’ remark about what the legislature has done regarding the assignment of benefits issue and called for a fix to “Florida’s broken” and “unfair legal system.

 “Florida has one of the nation’s top business climates, but the number one thing we must fix that’s holding us back is Florida’s broken, expensive and unfair legal system,” said Wilson