Ad Campaign Seeks Limits On Civil Lawsuits

A coalition of business groups is launching a statewide advertising campaign, seeking new legislative momentum to put limits on civil lawsuits, like for asbestos claims.

Two organizations representing a list of business lobbying groups and others are putting $70,000 into 30-second radio commercials and online ads to push for attention for what they call frivolous lawsuits hurting Louisiana's business climate. The groups announced the ad campaign Monday.

Business groups say plaintiffs' lawyers drum up cookie-cutter lawsuits and slap companies with them, hoping to push companies into settling for sums of cash rather than facing the expense of going to court.

Opponents of the type of legislation sought say businesses want to limit their liability against legitimate claims and keep people from having recourse when they are harmed.