They say patience is a virtue, and in Florida, it’s finally paying dividends. After years of runaway litigation and skyrocketing insurance costs, Governor DeSantis delivered real change through historic tort reform measures in 2023. Now the numbers speak louder than the trial lawyers’ ads ever could. But despite the clear success, some lawmakers in the pocket of trial attorneys spent this legislative session trying to quietly dismantle those very reforms, pushing bills that would take Florida backward.
Despite efforts from the trial bar to undermine public confidence, Floridians overwhelmingly support Governor DeSantis and the proven success of tort reform. A recent Florida Chamber pollfound that 85% of Floridians continue to support the Governor’s reforms and 75% stand against the billboard trial lawyers who put profits before people. The message from the public couldn’t be clearer: stop the games and protect progress.
Unfortunately, some in Tallahassee didn’t get the memo. Ignoring both data and the will of the voters, a handful of lawmakers with deep ties to the trial bar lobby pushed throughmultiple bills aiming to dismantle the very reforms that are working.
Through the careful diligence of the legislature and the persistence of the thousands of CALA advocates, only one measure was able to make it to the Governor’s desk — and thankfully, Governor DeSantis vetoed it without hesitation. And why wouldn’t he? The results speak for themselves.
The Governor’s 2023 civil justice reforms took aim at the lawsuit abuse clogging our courts—increasing transparency forawarded damages and reining in attorney fee scams—finally restoring fairness in damages and efficiency in our courts. According to CNBC, Florida is now ranked the fifth best state in the nation for business, and our insurance markets are finally stabilizing. Further, the Office of Insurance Regulation reportedthat 29 insurers filed for no increase, and 15 lowered their rates.
And here’s more: frivolous lawsuits are plummeting. According to Guy Carpenter & Company, lawsuit filings in Florida have dropped 58% in just three years. That’s a direct result of shutting down the legal loopholes that encouraged baseless claims. Justice is for the injured, not opportunists.
The impact of DeSantis’s reforms has even reached the national stage, with the Wall Street JournalEditorial Board recentlycrediting them for the continued decline in insurance premiums for Florida residents. That is not abstract; that’s real relief for homeowners and consumers who struggled with the high cost of lawsuit abuse.
When the Governor vetoed the detrimental bill that would have amended the misleadingly coined “free kill” bill, he did more than protect good policy; he called out the political theater.Governor DeSantis’s reforms never limited an individual’s ability to seek justice when a loved one suffers a wrongful death. What they did was draw a clear and reasonable line around who can file suit, ensuring that those truly affected by the tragedy are the ones enabled to pursue damages.
The vetoed legislation would have blown that door wide open, inviting lawsuits from extended family members with little to no connection to the deceased, incentivizing opportunistic claims and emotionally manipulative court cases. That’s not real accountability or fairness; that’s jackpot justice.
With nearly 24% of Florida’s legislature being lawyers, the trial bar certainly has its friends. But Floridians have a fighter in Governor DeSantis and many like-minded legislators — individuals who champion small businesses, working families, and common sense.
Make no mistake: the trial bar will be back next session with more bills and more money. But Floridians have spoken loudly and clearly. We stand with meaningful reform, we stand with the Governor, and we’ll be ready to defend progress every step of the way.
Tom Gaitens is the Executive Director of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse – Florida
