Questions about Georgia tort reform, insurance rates continue

(The Center Square) – Georgia dropped off the American Tort Reform Foundation’s list of “Judicial Hellholes” for the first time in seven years, but remains on the watch list due to certain “problematic” county courts.

Some also question whether the state’s tort reform law has reduced insurance rates as state leaders promised.

Georgia’s absence from the “Judicial Hellhole” list is largely attributed to Gov. Brian Kemp’s reform package.

The bills required attorneys to focus on actual pain and suffering in trials, and shielded businesses from liability for issues outside their control.

The reform package also allowed juries to consider seat belt usage in auto accident cases and limited awards to actual paid medical costs, a change intended to eliminate inflated or “phantom” damages, supporters said.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said at the time the changes would lead to stabilizing insurance costs for consumers and increase transparency and fairness. But it’s yet to be seen if that’s actu...