The 2014 Judicial “Hellholes” Report Is Out!, by Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Class Action Litigation

http://tinyurl.com/lrsdvfvJud

Each year the American Tort Reform Association (“ATRA”) publishes its ‘Judicial Hellholes Report’ and examines problems in state court systems and challenges for corporate defendants in the fair and unbiased administration of justice.

The ATRA’s 2014 Report was published this morning; a copy is here, as well as an executive summary here.

Insofar as the Report identifies and defines a judicial hellhole as a jurisdiction where judges in civil cases systematically apply laws and procedures in an unfair and unbalanced manner, the Judicial Hellholes Report is an important read for corporate counsel facing class action exposures. In sum, if one has to litigate class actions and make decisions with respect to venue strategy, the Report is a ‘must read.’ . . .