ALBANY, NY (Dec. 10, 2024) – NFIB New York State Director Ashley Ranslow released a statement following the release today of the American Tort Reform Foundation’s annual “Judicial Hellholes” report, which named New York City the 2nd worst “Judicial Hellhole” in the nation.

“Small business owners are not surprised to see New York near the top of this list. There is no doubt that New Yorkers need meaningful reform to stop lawsuit abuse and help protect small businesses from predatory practices and litigation,” said State Director Ashley Ranslow. “Small employers are already facing countless economic struggles, and this report highlights the judicial burden New York employers have stacked against them by pro-trial litigators looking out for their own personal interests. The state’s liability environment and lawsuit-friendly policies drive up costs and are a major factor driving businesses and residents to greener pastures in other states.”

“The predatory frequency of pay lawsuits victimizing small- and medium-sized businesses the past few years are but the latest and most outrageous example of such lawsuit abuse,” continued Ranslow. “At the targeted Main Street businesses in New York, employees have been paid for every hour they have worked, they were simply paid biweekly or semimonthly. Yet now, due to a lower state court ruling, small business owners are being outrageously harmed for the benefit of trial lawyers and penalized with absurd, job-killing financial damages.”

Data reveals that New York residents pay an annual “tort tax” of more than $2,318.79, while more than 418,355 jobs are lost each year due to excessive tort costs.

Click here to view the full report.

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