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States Ranked on Legal Fairness by U.S. Chamber Survey
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Ohio and Pennsylvania rank 26th and 34th, respectively, when it comes to legal fairness, according to the 2005 State Liability Systems Ranking Study released today by the Institute for Legal Reform/Harris Interactive.The Buckeye State moved up from 34th place on the 2004 survey, but the Keystone State dropped after posting a 39th-place finish last year. For the fourth consecutive year, Delaware was ranked with the most balanced legal system."Employers are drawn to states with a fair and balanced legal system," said Thomas Donohue, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber. Other states, he added, would do well to "follow the lead of Mississippi, Texas and Ohio and pass reforms that will provide balance" to their legal systems.In particular, Donohue cited West Virginia, which ranks 49th this year, calling its legal system "badly flawed" and in need of comprehensive reforms to restore fairness.The Institute for Legal Reform has placed full-page newspaper ads across the state to promote the results of the study and highlight the need for comprehensive legal reform legislation. West Virginia has been ranked next-to-last in legal fairness four years in a row, Donohue said.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations.Read the full report: www.instituteforlegalreform.org"