Business Week Article Proposes Balanced, Limited Approach to Tort Reform

In the current issue of Business Week magazine there is an article on “How to Fix the Tort System,” which urges pragmatic and limited reforms that would attack abuses while preserving benefits of the system. The approach suggested by Business Week would curb excesses in class actions and frivolous claims, punish those on both sides that truly abuse the system, and move some problem areas of claims into more of a no-fault style claims administration system, but would leave most of the day to day work of the tort system unscathed. If only our Georgia legislators had read more objective, business oriented articles that pointed out the societal benefits of the tort system as an alternative to the heavier hand of governmental regulation and socialistic programs. Unfortunately, both sides of the national debate on the tort system engage in hyperbole and show too little willingness to consider each other’s legitimate concerns.

Ken Shigley represents plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases statewide in Georgia, and in other states subject to the multijurisdictional practice and pro hac vice rules in each state. Ken Shigley was designated as a “Super Lawyer” in Atlanta Magazine and one of the “Legal Elite” in Georgia Trend Magazine. He is President-Elect of the State Bar of Georgia (2011-12), a Certified Civil Trial Advocate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Chair of the Southeastern Motor Carrier Liability Institute and former chair of the Georgia Insurance Law Institute. He particularly focuses on cases arising from truck wrecks and accidents (tractor trailers truck wrecks, semi truck wrecks,18 wheeler truck wrecks, big rig truck wrecks, log truck wrecks, dump truck wrecks). He and Sally have been married since 1983, and are the proud parnts of two young adults, Anne Shigley and Ken Shigley, Jr.