FreedomWorks

Today, Wisconsin FreedomWorks announced a comprehensive campaign to stop lawsuit abuse in response to a pair of recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decisions.

The first ruling, a 4-3 decision, dismissed medical liability reform that was approved by the Wisconsin legislature 10 years ago. The law limited non-economic damages -- often labeled mental distress or pain and suffering -- to $445,775. By discarding the medical liability reform law, Wisconsin may face increased insurance rates for doctors as well as medical costs for citizens.

The second ruling, a 4-2 decision, was the first of its kind in the United States. The Court set a dangerous precedent in a case involving lead paint by ordering a financial payout to a plaintiff whose lawyers could not demonstrate beyond speculation and conjecture that he was injured by the defendant’s product.

These two decisions effectively create a "Tort Hell Tundra" in Wisconsin and as a result, FreedomWorks will engage in a campaign to alter this climate ripe for lawsuit abuse. Relying heavily on grassroots politicking, FreedomWorks has engaged in similar efforts in the past in Alabama, Florida, and Illinois with great success. FreedomWorks expects a tough fight in Wisconsin and is targeting a campaign budget of $2 million.

"Our campaign will feature a 'Stop Lawsuit Abuse' pledge that we will ask candidates for governor and state legislature to sign. FreedomWorks will then work to let the people of Wisconsin know where their candidates stand and what they will do about these two egregious state Supreme Court decisions. We will also inform Wisconsin voters of Justice N. Patrick Crooks two votes in support of frivolous lawsuits," said FreedomWorks Wisconsin State Director, Cameron Sholty.

Sholty continued: "This campaign will include an extensive educational campaign about how tort reform improves our way of life, our economy, and stops our doctors from leaving Wisconsin to practice somewhere else."

FreedomWorks Chairman and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey commented further on Wisconsin FreedomWorks' efforts:

"With these two rulings, Wisconsin has gone from a leader in tort reform to a 'Tort Hell Tundra.' The trial lawyers used to avoid Wisconsin, but now may swarm to the state like a scourge of mosquitoes, replacing the doctors who leave because they can’t afford medical liability insurance."