Civil Justice Reform

Civil justice reform, also sometimes referred to as tort reform, refers to proposed changes in the civil justice system that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort is a system for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to another's person, property or other protected interests (e.g. reputation, under libel and slander laws). Tort reform advocates focus on personal injury in particular. Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. (SHB) has played an active role in civil justice reform for years.

Civil justice reform falls within the realm of our Government Enforcement & Compliance Practice. As the number of civil and criminal investigations into alleged corporate misconduct has skyrocketed in recent decades, this talented team of attorneys has kept pace with the latest legal developments to combat these multi-pronged offensives.

The SHB Government Enforcement & Compliance Practice represents companies and individuals in criminal, civil and regulatory government enforcement actions at both the state and federal levels. Attorneys in this practice routinely handle False Claims Act litigation, including qui tam lawsuits, as well as suspension and debarment/exclusion proceedings. Our civil justice reform experience extends to civil RICO actions, agency investigations, legislative inquiries, professional disciplinary hearings, and other civil and criminal litigation brought by government authorities. In addition, SHB focuses on defending clients subject to bet-the-company litigation involving multiple plaintiffs and complex legal issues. The firm?s veteran litigators routinely manage grand jury investigations, state attorneys general investigations, civil and criminal trials, and collateral proceedings such as private litigation. Staffed with former prosecutors and a former U.S. attorney, the SHB government enforcement team understands the priorities, policies and pressures that guide and influence challenges to corporate defendants. This reputation for excellence has enabled SHB lawyers to gain credibility with prosecutors and agents, thus abetting an effective civil justice reform strategy built on respect between the enforcement community and SHB counsel.

With an ongoing goal of civil justice reform, our SHB Government Enforcement & Compliance Practice also emphasizes the importance of taking preventive measures to circumvent expensive and potentially damaging litigation. Appreciating that clients often wish to avoid the consequences of going to trial, SHB attorneys excel at resolving criminal matters short of indictment.

To learn more about SHB?s role in civil justice reform, contact us today.