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St. Louis’ ‘Judicial Hellhole’ Ranking Must Serve as a Wake-Up Call

St. Louis’ ‘Judicial Hellhole’ Ranking Must Serve as a Wake-Up Call

December 5, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

St. Louis’ ‘Judicial Hellhole’ Ranking Must Serve as a Wake-Up Call

St. Louis earned the American Tort Reform Foundation’s ranking as a “Judicial Hellhole,” marking the tenth year the city has earned a spot on the watchdog’s list. Noting that small business owners and hardworking families shoulder the burden of lawsuit abuse, NFIB State Director Brad Jones called on lawmakers to restore the integrity of the judicial system in Missouri. “For 10 years, St. Louis has earned the title of ‘judicial hellhole,’ Jones said. “Absent substantial reform, the next 10 years won’t look any different, with small business owners and hardworking families continuing to shoulder the burden of lawsuit abuse.” According to the report’s findings:
  • Missouri residents pay an annual “tort tax” of nearly $1,000 while nearly 58,000 jobs are lost each year.
  • In St. Louis specifically, that number jumps to $1,608 paid by each resident in an annual “tort tax.”
CLICK HERE to read the full report.
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