Litigation: Annual Boardroom Guide to Litigation in the 50 States

The American Justice Partnership/Directorship has published its Annual Board Guide to Litigation in the 50 States, noting that its raison d'etre lies in the fact that "most companies fail to accurately account for the total costs of lawsuits and underestimate the importance of a state's liability climate." The ranks states based on their "Tort Liability Index," and provides a description of the legal climate for each state, e.g. Nebraska "enjoys the top ranking for its favorable litigation climate. Its liability laws lead to fair and predictable litigation results. Nebraska law does not allow punitive damages, places limits on medical malpractice lawsuits, has a 10-year statute of repose for product liability lawsuits, and does not allow joint liability for non-economic damages. The Supreme Court is led by a rule-of-law majority and Attorney General Jon Bruning is a staunch defender of the rule of law. Nebraska's liability climate is conducive to growth and job creation."