Battle Creek Enquirer (MI), June 12, 2007

If you really want to know why medical care and drug costs have skyrocketed or why many companies are moving their operations overseas, at the cost of many jobs, then read the report by the Pacific Research Institute of San Francisco, titled "Jackpot Justice: The True Cost of America's Tort System."

The report provides a conservative estimate of the total cost of America's tort system, including both direct and indirect costs, and the devastating effect upon our economy. According to the report, these costs total $865 billion annually, totaling 2.2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product as compared to 0.9 percent of GDP of other advanced world economies. The fear of litigation, the threat of litigation and actual litigation have had a very costly effect upon all Americans - doctors run unnecessary tests to avoid being sued, companies have to walk a fine line to avoid litigation and even our schools find it very difficult to discipline unruly students. Many companies have been forced in to bankruptcy and many have actually gone out of business because of the thousands of unjustified lawsuits.

Unfortunately, many of our congressional people are also lawyers and they are seemingly quite reluctant to reign in the trial lawyers and the liberal judges, even in spite of the growing amount of evidence exposing the unscrupulous actions of many trial lawyers. If you are really concerned and really care, then take the time to read the report by the Pacific Research Institute and then let your congressional representatives know how you feel. Pull up the their Web site - www.pacificresearch.org - then click on "Publications" and scroll down until you find "Jackpot Justice: The True Cost of America's Tort System".

Joseph T. Hepp

Battle Creek