Average Family Paying $3,000-plus in Lawsuit “Tax”
April 17th is the last day to file federal and most state taxes. While you’re writing that check, it’s worth considering where that money is going, and how much of it is potentially being wasted funding our broken civil justice system.
When our courts are abused, we all bear the cost. In this time of budget cuts and financial stress, we call on our elected leaders to consider how we can reduce this unnecessary burden, by taking a stand against lawsuit abuse and continuing to support common-sense legal reforms.
So how much are you paying for lawsuit abuse? Towers Watson estimates that every man, woman, and child pays a “lawsuit tax” of $808 per year…which adds up to more than $3,000 a year for the average family of four. Additionally, many CALA states, such as Louisiana, Illinois and California, have published reports about the cost of litigation to local municipalities, which can be used to highlight the burden litigation places on taxpayer dollars. Finally, our friends at Project Lawsuit Abuse have also provided content and guest posts on this topic.
As tax day approaches, many taxpayers are thinking about that ways that federal, state, and local governments spend their money. Likewise, policymakers in Texas and beyond should seek to build a more fair and predictable judicial system, keeping in mind the high cost of lawsuit abuse.
