S.D. named top state in lawsuit climate survey
From staff reports
South Dakota has replaced Delaware as the best state in a U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey of states’ lawsuit climates.
Delaware held the top spot for 15 years.
The survey from the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform polls lawyers and executives representing companies with at least $100 million in annual revenue and firsthand, recent litigation experience in the state surveyed. The questions address the impartiality and competence of judges, quality of appellate review and treatment of class action lawsuits.
A state’s litigation environment continues to be important to senior litigators, with most respondents — 85 percent — reporting that it is likely to impact important business decisions at their companies, such as where to locate or do business. That’s an increase from 75 percent in 2015 and 70 percent in 2012.
South Dakota ranked first in several subcategories, including treatment of class action and mass consolidation lawsuits, damages and juries’ fairness.
