Skip to content
NFIB Logo Join Now

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.
Get to know NFIB

NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.

Receive our newsletter and email notification
Knowledge is power. Let us help you stay informed with breaking legislative news, regulatory updates, business tips, and more.

Related Articles

Clothes on a rack at a Retail store
Related
July 27, 2026
Shop Small During New Mexico’s Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday
Certain back-to-school items will be exempt from sales tax from Friday, July 31-Sunday, August 2
Read More
NFIB podcast cover featuring 'Small Business Rundown' logo on left and Episode 91: 'State Tax Hikes Crush Small Business' on the right, with three host headshots labeled Greg, Patrick, and Anthony.
Related
July 27, 2026
Podcast: State Tax Hikes on the Ballot This Year
Experts on the Small Business Rundown discuss proposed state tax increases and the impact higher taxes would have on small businesses across the nation.
Read More
Cashier ringing up sales
Related
July 27, 2026
Northern Illinois Sales Taxes Increase August 1
The higher taxes in Northern Illinois are to fund the Chicago-area public-transit system
Read More
Clothes on a rack at a Retail store
Related
July 27, 2026
Arkansas’ Sales Tax Holiday Weekend Is an Opportunity to Shop Small
Certain items will be exempt from sales tax Saturday, August 1-Sunday, August 2
Read More

© 2001 - 2026 National Federation of Independent Business. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Accessibility