Every legal system needs a mechanism to address torts, or non-criminal civil wrongs. Ideally, the tort system should
perform two functions: compensate victims and deter potentially dangerous behavior. The structure of damage awards
is intended to reflect these goals, with compensatory damages to ensure victims are made whole, and punitive damages
that can be assessed to discipline bad actors.

Unfortunately some people have turned our civil justice system into a lottery. Frivolous lawsuits impose costs on consumers, businesses, and the economy in general. Over the last couple of decades America’s tort system has become one of the most
costly and inefficient methods of dispute resolution in the world. All told, the legal system’s direct costs are more than 180
billion dollars annually, roughly 2 percent of GDP, more than two and half times the average industrialized country, this does
not include other consumer costs, such as higher prices for the goods and services they consume, as well as the reduced
availability of goods and services that are taken off the market for fear of lawsuits. All in all, each and every one of us in
America is paying for a civil justice system that is out of control. In dollar terms, the tab comes to about 1,200 dollars per
person, per year.

This is not to say that all lawsuits are unwarranted. A tort system is necessary for resolving accidental harms. Somewhere
in the United States a lawsuit is filed every 10 seconds of every working hour. It comes as no surprise, that victims with
legitimate injury cases are forced to wait an average of 65 months to go to trial. Because of frivolous lawsuits, those with
legitimate cases are forced to wait for years.

The most important institution for any country is a set of rules that allows people to resolve private disputes and enforce
contracts. Legal rules deter people from breaking contracts and injuring others, and they protect property owned by
individuals. The legal system also provides rules that guide behavior and create a sense of personal responsibility,
and avoid activities that may harm others. I believe a great majority of lawyers in this country are good people, providing
a great service to our citizens. Unfortunately there is a select group of personal injury attorneys who are ruining the system
for all of us. We need to give back our legal system to decent, honest Americans with real grievances. We can debate
on what reforms will work best, but I hope we all can agree our legal system is in need of serious reform. To do nothing
will surely lead us on the path of economic destruction.