Wisconsin legal climate headed 'wrong way,' business group warns
Associated Press
March 26, 2006

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin's legal climate for businesses has gone downhill faster than that of any other state after a series of court rulings expanded the liability of companies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says in a new report.

Corporate lawyers surveyed for the chamber's annual rankings of state court systems ranked Wisconsin the 23rd best for companies, down 13 spots from just two years ago. The rankings are being released Monday by the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform, which lobbies to limit lawsuits against companies.

…

The New York-based Center for Justice & Democracy, a national consumer group, dismissed Wisconsin's ranking as "dishonest, unfair and contrary to the evidence about the state's positive business climate." The state was recently one of seven to receive top ratings from a national economic development organization, the group noted.

"These surveys reflect nothing more than the Chamber's political agenda to limit legitimate lawsuits and accountability for corporate wrongdoers," Joanne Doroshow, executive director of the group, said in a statement.

For a copy of the complete article, contact CJ&D.