Three Illinois counties were mentioned in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s (ATRF) 2025/2026 Judicial Hellholes Report.

St. Clair and Madison Counties rejoined Cook County on this year’s Judicial Hellholes® list after previously being listed as “dishonorable mentions.” The ARTF report labels all three as magnets for asbestos claims and no-injury cases.

“Small-business owners work hard to serve their customers, hire their neighbors, and provide for their families—yet one frivolous lawsuit is sufficient to bring this all to a crashing halt, changing the American dream into a legal nightmare,” said NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley. “Unfortunately, the Illinois General Assembly tends to prioritize deep-pocketed lawyers over Main Street businesses and has been making it easier for so-called ‘interested parties’ to sue small businesses.”

According to the report, a newly enacted law (PA 104-0352) expanding Illinois courts’ jurisdiction may open the flood gates to lawsuits with little real connection to the state.

NFIB has been a consistent voice for reform in the frivolous lawsuit debate. The small business organization recently sent a letter to Governor J.B. Pritzker urging him to veto provisions in SB 2339 that permit non-injured “interested parties” with no previous legal standing to sue small employers under the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act.