Floridians for Lawsuit Reform has launched a campaign urging New York lawmakers to consider adopting Florida-style lawsuit reforms. The initiative aims to reduce legal-system-driven costs for residents and insurers in New York.
According to Floridians for Lawsuit Reform, the campaign is part of a broader multistate effort by Protecting American Consumers Together. It links high living and insurance costs in New York to what reform advocates describe as “lawsuit abuse” and a hostile legal climate. The campaign highlights New York’s longstanding presence in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s “Judicial Hellholes” rankings, arguing that excessive litigation and generous liability rules have made the state an outlier for insurers and businesses. Supporters point out that Florida’s Republican-led government has enacted significant tort reforms in recent years, presenting this experience as a potential model for New York lawmakers seeking to ease consumer pressure without increasing government spending.
The campaign emphasizes financial implications, citing recent analysis indicating that New York drivers pay an average of $4,031 annually for full-coverage auto insurance, compared to a national average of approximately $2,400. This suggests many working families are paying nearly double what drivers elsewhere pay. Reform advocates also estimate that legal system abuse adds about $89 billion annually in direct and indirect costs to New York’s economy. They argue these litigation-driven expenses affect insurance premiums, consumer prices, and government budgets, suggesting that meaningful civil justice reform could act as a broad-based tax cut without reducing essential public services.
Supporters contrast this with Florida’s recent legislative actions under Governor Ron DeSantis, which aimed at curbing attorney-fee abuse and mass claims in property and auto insurance. They note that since early 2024, over 30 insurers have filed for rate decreases, 17 new companies have entered Florida’s homeowners and auto markets, and the state’s top five auto insurers are posting average rate reductions exceeding 6 percent. Nearly $1 billion in refunds or credits have been secured for policyholders—evidence reform advocates say demonstrates how tightening litigation rules can yield tangible savings without compromising legitimate consumer protections.
Floridians for Lawsuit Reform is a Florida-based 501(c)(4) social welfare organization founded in 2019 with headquarters in Tallahassee. Its mission is to raise awareness about civil justice system abuse, demonstrate how frivolous lawsuits and high attorney fees drive up property insurance rates and overall affordability challenges, and promote policy solutions aimed at strengthening Florida’s economy while keeping courts open for legitimate claims. The group sponsors the Florida Tort Reform information hub, conducts public education campaigns, and often aligns with pro-business and center-right policymakers who argue that predictable liability rules and lower litigation costs help attract investment, stabilize insurance markets, and protect consumers from hidden “tort taxes” in everyday prices.
