South Florida Again on List of 'Judicial Hellholes'

South Florida has again landed on the American Tort Reform Associations annual list of judicial hellholes.

Areas highlighted are deemed by the association as being among the most unfair and out-of-balance in the nation.

South Florida, known for its aggressive personal injury bar, is the national epicenter of excessive and fraudulent automobile insurance litigation and tobacco lawsuits, a release from the association stated.

The states insufficiently rigorous standard for admission of expert testimony contributes to its reputation as a judicial hellhole. While the state Legislature has made steady progress in reasonably limiting liability in certain areas, the Florida Supreme Courts record of striking down such legislative efforts leaves observers cautiously optimistic at best.

Philadelphia topped the list, followed by: the entire state of California; West Virginia; South Florida; Madison and St. Clair counties, Ill.; New York City and Albany, N.Y.; Clark County, Nev.; and McLean County, Ill.

The American Association for Justice claimed in responses that the report lacked any apparent methodology and served as "little more than corporate propaganda."

Despite receiving millions in corporate cash, ATRA continues to produce the same stale, recycled report year after year," AAJ President Gary M. Paul stated in a release.

"ATRAs multinational corporate funders should start to question if their dues are spent wisely on such an amateur piece of propaganda.