On the recordFebruary 7, 2005
This particular bill gives us the first opportunity to take a major step forward on this floor to halt lawsuit abuses that occur across the country. Every 2 seconds a lawsuit is filed in America--every 2 seconds. In 2002, that added up to 16.3 million lawsuits filed in State courts. In the past decade, litigation has skyrocketed, creating the most expensive litigation system in the world. In 2003, the tort system cost an incredible $246 billion. In other words, that is approximately $845 for every man, woman, and child. At the current rate of increase, it is estimated that the per capita cost of the tort system will go up to $1,000 per person by 2006. That is $4,000 for a family of four. Nationally, the tort system costs more than the entire economic output of my own State of Tennessee.
Source
govinfo.gov
