As a small business owner, I see firsthand the devastating
impact high taxes, overly burdensome regulations, and lawsuit abuse have on our
communities. Mom-and-pop shops are forced to close, basic goods become more
costly, and thousands of families each year make the difficult decision to either
endure emerging hardships or relocate to another state. In a time of high
inflation and economic uncertainty, it is critical lawmakers work together to
alleviate the harsh economic loads families in Illinois endure.
Excessive taxes and regulations hamper the future success of
new businesses opening in our local communities. This is already abundantly
clear to many. Compound this with excessively frivolous lawsuits and the burden
small business families are forced to grapple with can become suffocating.
Fixing the issue of lawsuit abuse plaguing our state is something that would
benefit everyone. Abusive lawsuits wreak havoc on Illinois’ economy and disrupt
the lives of countless individuals. The need to address this problem ought to
take center stage in our town squares.
While our civil justice system is meant to right certain
wrongs, our state’s legal policies leave the door wide open to indiscriminate
legal actions that contradict the true meaning of justice. State laws give
self-motived trial attorneys free rein to conceive and initiate their own legal
action on undeserving businesses. On top of this, the largest percentages of a
settlement in many cases are carved out to the lawyers themselves, with pennies
left for the actual plaintiffs. As these certain firms shop around faux
controversies to enrich themselves, the consequences not only affect
undeserving business owners and plaintiffs, but the prices of goods on the
shelves, competition, consumer access, job stability, and much more.
A recent economic impact report indicated that Illinois
families pay nearly $2,100 more every year for goods and services due to
lawsuit abuse. Furthermore, more than 170,000 Illinois jobs are lost every year
because of this. When businesses are forced to pay hand-over-fist to defend
themselves, even when the lawsuit against them lacks merit, prices go up and employees
get laid off. Employees and local consumers should not have to stand for that.
Findings like these should send a shockwave across our
state and motivate our leaders to act. Instead, many lawmakers in Springfield
are continuing to encourage the destructive nature of frivolous lawsuits when
we need to be doing the opposite. Our economy is already suffering enough from
the high cost of owning a business. Commonsense legal
reforms would give job-creators a much-needed reprieve from
the constant threat of frivolous lawsuits.
By ending the carve outs for trial lawyer interest groups,
family-owned businesses can thrive and positively impact our local communities.
We can fight inflation, protect jobs, and bolster the competitiveness of the
market. If we finally get these priorities in line, we can lighten the load of
economic hardship before the final straw breaks the camel’s back.
Karen Tirio is the president of Monarch Senior Care in
Woodstock, IL.