Tom Gaitens, Florida director for the Civil Justice Association of America (CALA), emphasized the importance of maintaining judicial reform advancements in the state. This statement was made on X on December 18.
"Florida needs to hold the line, having emerged from being one of the," said Gaitens, Executive Director. "FL Leg needs to protect the gains made!"
Gaitens' post was a response to a report indicating that Florida's tort costs per household have reached $5,768 annually, ranking third highest in the nation. The report anticipates a decline in these costs due to recent legal reforms aimed at improving Florida's legal climate.
Tom Gaitens's X post
| https://x.com/TomFLCALA/status/1866835638752010723
In December 2023, the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) removed Florida from its "Judicial Hellholes" list and designated it as a "Point of Light," acknowledging significant legal reforms. This marked progress from 2018 when Florida was ranked as the No. 1 Judicial Hellhole due to excessive litigation and frivolous lawsuits. ATRA attributes this improvement to legislative measures enhancing transparency in damages and reducing lawsuit abuse.
The Insurance Information Institute (III) states that excessive lawsuits and outsized jury verdicts lead to increased insurance costs for all policyholders, as businesses and insurers raise their costs to account for heightened risk. The III notes that Florida’s reform measures have begun benefiting the state's insurance market, with multiple new insurance providers entering the state.
According to a press release, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 837 into law last year with the goal of improving the state’s insurance market. The legislation introduced reform measures aimed at decreasing excessive litigation responsible for rising insurance costs by eliminating attorneys’ fee multipliers and establishing uniform standards to assist juries in calculating accurate medical damages.
Gaitens is also executive director of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse-Florida, a position he has held since February 2021. Additionally, he serves as vice president and partner at McDaniel Trading, Inc., with over 26 years of experience. He is based in Apollo Beach, Florida, and is a graduate of the University of South Florida.