Wisconsin welcomed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the state Capitol Monday to hear the results of a legal liability study which highlighted the state's plummeting rankings over the past years.
Bill G. Smith, president of the Wisconsin Coalition for Civil Justice, said the drop in ranking is a disappointment for the state and is hurting chances to fill in the economic growth puzzle.\
""We were among the 10 best in the nation in terms of overall legal climate, and as a result of the unfortunate Supreme Court decision last summer [to overturn non-economic caps in medical malpractice cases] the failure of the governor to sign into law some legislation that would respond to those Supreme Court decisions, we continue to see our legal climate decline,"" Smith said.
Dan Leistikow, spokesperson for Gov. Jim Doyle, countered these claims and cited the governor's recent signing of medical malpractice caps. He said the governor has taken a very balanced approach in liability legislation.
""He's signed medical malpractice caps back into place after the court had overturned them. At the same time, he's vetoed attempts to give lead paint companies immunity from their damages that they have caused to kids,"" Leistikow said. ""I think that's one of the major objections.""
Smith said the decision to unveil the national survey results in Wisconsin proves the state is in need of liability reform.
""[The U.S. Chamber of Commerce study] is national recognition that our legal system is unpredictable, unstable and unfair to employers and businesses that want to locate here or grow a business here,"" Smith said.
Doyle's Republican challenger in the upcoming election, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, is placing blame on Doyle and the decisions made to veto lawsuit reform, according to a statement.
""Jim Doyle's opposition to lawsuit reform is threatening our ability to attract good jobs to Wisconsin,"" Green said in a statement. ""Wisconsin businesses are now faced with having to choose lawyer fees over hiring new workers. This study proves Wisconsin's economy cannot afford four more years of Jim Doyle.""
Leistikow said Doyle's past vetoes have no effect on the position the state is in now.
""We've seen in recent months businesses making a major commitment to Wisconsin in part because Gov. Doyle has significantly improved the regulatory climate,"" Leistikow said. ""We've seen some Fortune 500 companies investing in Wisconsin because the bottom line is that it's a good place to do business and that continues to be true.""
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