Utah Governor Signed Two Groundbreaking Legal Reform Bills into Law

U.S. Chamber: Utah advances common sense legal reforms, bringing fairness to the state's civil justice system

SALT LAKE CITY - Governor Spencer Cox signed two ILR supported legal reform bills into law that will confront higher costs and frivolous lawsuits. They will help bring fairness to Utah's legal system and deter the trial bar from abusing Utah's courts for a quick payday.

"Utah deserves a legal system that prioritizes justice and fairness for its citizens rather than one that allows plaintiff attorneys to manipulate the system through expensive, excessive lawsuits motivated solely by profit," Stephen Waguespack, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform said. "Thanks to Governor Cox, Attorney General Brown, Chairman Jack, and others for their leadership to reign in those practices through this commonsense legislation. We encourage other states to follow Utah's lead."

According to the Institute for Legal Reform's third edition of Tort Costs in America, the current lawsuit system places an annual $4,354 burden on Utah households. When businesses are forced to deal with rising legal costs and skyrocketing settlements, they are given no other choice but to pass these costs down to consumers.

Trial lawyers often look for loopholes in state lawbooks like public nuisance and exploit and invent novel use of this law to drown the courts in lawsuits. This excessive litigation ends up costing Utah over $4 billion each year, with consumers and small businesses often facing the consequences.

About the bills:

HB 330 offers protections for businesses and individuals who acted in compliance with government authorization, providing fairness in state cases. HB 591 reins in the state's public nuisance laws, closing loopholes in a centuries-old legal concept that trial lawyers have exploited to flood courts with meritless claims.