New York’s clogged and bloated legal system is costing taxpayers and companies a whopping $89 billion a year in excessive litigation expenses, according to a report released this week.
Lenient liability laws and lawsuit-friendly policies have fostered an environment where greedy attorneys can make bank, often off the backs of local businesses and city government, the report, conducted by the American Tort Reform Association, suggests.
“The City’s courts are a playground for fraudsters and opportunistic trial lawyers, while honest New Yorkers foot the bill,” said ATRA President Tiger Joyce.
As a result, the Big Apple ranks No. 2 on the group’s list of Top 10 worst judicial hellholes in the country, with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and Pennsylvania Supreme Court tied for first.