In a column posted Wednesday, Feb. 4, in Dome Politics, NFIB State Director Hunter Loggins discusses the need to stop lawsuit abuse in Georgia:

Georgia has earned its reputation as a place where families can start a business, grow a career, and raise their children with confidence in the future.

That doesn’t happen by accident. As state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), I hear from small business owners every day about how our state’s thoughtful policy choices are keeping our economy competitive, our communities strong, and our systems fair.

That’s why Georgia’s recent tort reforms deserve time to do what they were designed to do: reducing lawsuit abuse, lowering costs for hardworking Georgians, and creating a more stable legal climate, all while preserving the right to pursue legitimate claims.

Prior to last year’s reforms, the unsustainability of Georgia’s legal landscape was evident – especially in the Atlanta area. A report revealed that in 2024, about 43,000 lawsuits were filed, a near 9,000-times increase from any other year for the past decade. That number was projected to only grow higher by itself, not even including the potential for a rise in natural disasters or other drivers.

The data, and our small business owners’ real experiences, paint the picture of a Georgia that had been dominated by frivolous lawsuits, regularly targeting businesses and insurance companies, all at the expense of Georgia’s taxpayers.

Recent signs have been extremely encouraging. Businesses across the state are already seeing a shift toward a more balanced environment that discourages opportunistic litigation and helps employers focus on serving customers, investing in workers, and expanding in Georgia.

The truth is that when abusive litigation runs rampant, everybody pays. It shows up in higher insurance premiums for families, higher costs for small businesses, and tighter budgets for farmers, contractors, and community institutions that can’t afford constant legal exposure. Those costs don’t stay contained in courtrooms. They get passed along through the price of goods, the cost of services, and the decisions employers make about hiring, wages, and expansion.

For too long, lawsuit abuse has functioned like a hidden tax on Georgians. When meritless or inflated claims multiply, insurance costs rise. When claims become a business model, rather than a path to justice, the system drifts away from its purpose. When a legal environment becomes unpredictable, small businesses and mid-sized employers are forced to divert resources away from growth, and into legal defense.

That’s why the recent reforms matter. They are about restoring balance and reinforcing common-sense standards. They reduce excessive and abusive litigation while preserving access to justice for those who have real injuries and real claims.

A fair legal climate must protect consumers and honest businesses alike. It should encourage accountability when harm occurs, but also deter predatory practices that exploit the system and drive up costs for everyone else.

Georgia’s future depends on policies that reward productivity, strengthen trust, and keep costs under control. Defending the reforms that keep our legal climate fair and predictable is not just good for families and businesses statewide, it’s good for all of Georgia, and sets us on the right path to a fair future.

Hunter Loggins is State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization.