In response to "Lawsuits extract $1B from localities a year," July 27, every year, hundreds of New Yorkers are harmed by unsafe roads, dangerous construction sites and other preventable hazards that go unaddressed through carelessness or worse.
When New Yorkers are injured due to the fault of their municipalities, our justice system ensures they have access to recovery for their losses. The easiest way to keep those costs within reason is to take reasonable steps to keep their citizens safe.
While conservative groups and corporate lobbyists such as the so-called Lawsuit Reform Alliance like to spread the myth that New York is "sue happy," the truth is quite the opposite. In fact, in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's 2010 State Liability Systems Ranking Survey, New York ranked quite well, ahead of ostensibly business-friendly states like Texas, Georgia and South Carolina as well as major competitors like Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois and California. In fact, New York ranked ahead of states accounting for two-thirds of the nation's population.
It is time to stop the rhetoric and focus on keeping people safe. If groups such as the Lawsuit Reform Alliance want to cut down on lawsuits, they should be working to prevent accidents that harm the citizens. Then, New York could move even higher on the list on liability and safety, a win for everyone.
Michael Jaffe
President
New York State
Trial Lawyers Association
Pazer, Epstein & Jaffe, PC
Manhattan