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The lawsuit climate for businesses in Florida is in the bottom fifth of the country, according to a new survey.
But at least Gulf Coast business owners and executives who don't do much work on the East Coast can take solace in this nugget: Survey respondents pegged Miami-Dade County as one of the worst court systems in the country.
The survey of nearly 1,500 corporate lawyers and the subsequent report, Lawsuit Climate 2010: Ranking the States, was published March 22 by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. Florida ranked 42nd among all states for legal fairness.
More bad news: A solid majority, 67%, reported that a state's lawsuit environment is likely to impact important business decisions at their company, like where to relocate or expand. That 67% is up from 57% when the survey was last conducted in 2007.
Florida has long been considered a hotspot for exorbitant awards and frivolous slip-and-fall lawsuits, the report states.
“At nearly 12%, Florida has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Yet, the state's poor legal climate is negatively impacting its economic environment by discouraging new businesses and new jobs,” U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform President Lisa Rickard says in a statement. “Florida needs more jobs, not more lawsuits.”
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