LATEST FROM CJ&D-IL

Back bill on suing the dead
Chicago Sun-Times
Letter to the Editor
April 1, 2008

Flaws in construction safety standards could be fatal
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Letter to the Editor
March 15, 2008

News Release: IL Medical Malpractice Caps
Declared Unconstitutional (PDF)

News Release: Report Reveals Construction Work Dangers in Illinois
(October 2, 2007) (PDF)
Full Report


SNAPSHOT OF CIVIL JUSTICE
A Comprehensive Look at the Civil Justice System in Illinois - 2007
(based on the latest available data)

OVERVIEWS

1. Facts About Civil Litigation in Illinois and the United States (PDF) (Case filings in tort, med mal, product liability, securites class actions; few sue, most settle)
2. Jury Verdicts – Consistent and Conservative (PDF) (Jury verdicts in tort, medical malpractice, product liabilty; competence, fairness of juries)
3. The Facts About the Illinois Economy (PDF) (Competitiveness, strong economic indicators, industries innovating and profiting)
4. Asbestos Cases Are Not Overwhelming Illinois Courts (PDF) (Recent case filing data)
5. The Truth About Class Action Lawsuits (PDF) (Importance, attorneys fees, impact of federal CAFA)
6. Punitive Damages - Rare, Reasonable, and Effective (PDF) (Punitive damages in tort, medical malpractice, product liability cases; media coverage)
7. Debunking Myths About Tort System Costs (PDF) (Tillinghast numbers, "tort tax")
8. Public in Illinois and Across U.S. Reject Extremist “Tort Reform” Agenda (PDF) (Election results, polls)
   
   

Consumer Group Supports Constitutional Challenge To Unjust Illinois Medical Malpractice Caps Click here for PDF (September 17, 2007)

Consumer Group Calls On D.C. "Tort Reform" Group to Comply With State Campaign Financing Law Click here for PDF (February 6, 2007)

Letter to the American Tort Reform Association (PDF only)

Consumer Group Condemns Vicious Report Attacking Judges in Illinois Click here for PDF (December 13, 2006)

Consumer Group and Medical Malpractice Survivors Call for Repeal of Caps in Light of New Information
Survivors letter to Illinois legislators (October 19, 2006)

Insurer cuts doctors' premiums due to insurance law changes, not "cap" on damages, state officials say (October 13, 2006)

Consumer Group Condemns Corporate Front Groups’ Deceptive Ad Campaign (October 6, 2006)

Ryan Scandal Highlights Importance of Civil Justice System (September 7, 2006)

Consumer Groups and Medical Malpractice Survivors Join Together to Call for Repeal of Caps in Illinois
Survivors letter to Illinois legislators (August 24, 2006)

Southern Illinois Medical Malpractice Survivors Demand Meeting with Justice McGlynn Click here for PDF
(June 12, 2006)

U.S. Chamber Releases Deceptive Attacks on Illinois Click here for PDF
(March 24, 2006)

New Report Confirms: Medical Malpractice Insurance "Crisis" Over (PDF)
Full Report
(February 27, 2006)

New Legal Package A Boon To Special Interests
(February 1, 2006)

Statement of Consumer Advocate on Philip Morris
Court Decision
(December 15, 2005)

Consumer Group Condemns Corporate Front Group for Attacking Judges and Juries Click here for PDF
(December 13, 2005)

Consumer Group Demands Repeal of Medical Malpractice Cap Says ISMIE’s Rate Increase Request Proves Fallacies About Caps (PDF only)
(September 27, 2005)

Malpractice Survivors Decry Governor's Action (PDF only)
(August 25, 2005)

Wisconsin High Court Strikes Down Malpractice Compensation Cap: Decisions Raises Important Issues for Illinois Law Click here for PDF
(July 14, 2005)

Malpractice Survivors Urge Lawmakers to Protect Patient Safety and Oppose "Caps" Bill Click here for PDF (May 15, 2005)

Quad Cities Release (PDF only) (May 21, 2005)

Rockford Release (PDF only) (May 21, 2005)

Peoria Release (PDF only) (May 20, 2005)

Urbana Release (PDF only) (May 19, 2005)

Springfield Release (PDF only) (May 17, 2005)

Illinois Patients for Justice and Their Stories (PDF only)

Medical Malpractice Caps are Racially Discriminatory, New Report Says Click here for PDF (May 10, 2005)

Medical Malpractice Survivors Travel to Sprigfield--Patients Ask Legislators to Protect Victims' Rights Click here for PDF (May 4, 2005)

List of Medical Malpractice Survivors Visiting State Capitol, May 4 - 5, 2005 (PDF only)

Consumer Group Disputes U.S. Chamber’s “Report” on IL Business Climate; Says Chamber Has No Basis to Attack Illinois Communities Click here for PDF (March 8, 2005)

Medical Malpractice Victims Demand Review of Insurance Companies Click here for PDF (February 17, 2005)

Malpractice Victims Denounce Insurer’s Plan to Take Away VictimsRights- Demand that Insurance Companies Open Their Books Click here for PDF (February 1, 2005)

Illinois Medical Malpractice Survivors Demand Meeting with President Bush Click here for PDF (January 4, 2005)

Journalists and Watchdog Groups Denounce Business Lobbyists For Creating "Newspaper" to Push Anti-Justice Agenda (December 7, 2004)

Consumer Group and Doctor Team Up to Demand Release of Insurance Data (October 13, 2004)

OTHER FACT SHEETS

The Illinois "Tort Tax" Scam Click here for PDF(October 13, 2006)

National Chamber of Commerce Report Deceptive and Misleading Attack on Illinois Business Climate (PDF only) (March 24, 2006)

Special Interest Legal Package: Letting Gross Negligence off the Hook Click here for PDF (February 1, 2006)

Secrets and Lies--How Insurers Take from Patients to Pad Their Pockets Click here for PDF (May 12, 2005)

Real Insurance Solutions Click here for PDF (May 8, 2005)

"Tort Reformers" Distort Truth to Promote Agenda that Takes Away Patient Rights (PDF only) (May 8, 2005)

Real-Life Non-Economic Damages--What They Mean to People: Why They are Important Click here for PDF (May 8, 2005)

Compensation Caps--The War on Women, Children, Seniors and the Poor Click here for PDF (May 8, 2005

NEWSLETTERS:
Illinois Focus (Fall 2007) (PDF only)
Illinois Focus (Spring 2007) (PDF only)
Illinois Focus (Fall 2006) (PDF only)
Illinois Focus (Winter 2006) (PDF only)
Illinois Focus (Fall 2005) (PDF only)

Click here for older articles in our Illinois press archives

TESTIMONY

Testimony of Amber Hard Before the IL Senate Judiciary Committee (March 10, 2005)

Testimony of Amber Hard Before the IL House Judiciary Committee (February 23, 2005)

 

STUDIES

Stable Losses/Unstable Rates State Report: llinois (PDF File, February 24, 2003) Shows Illinois med mal claims have been stable for 30 years, but premiums gyrate in sync with economy and investment income. For the national report and other state breakdowns, see Americans for Insurance Reform