[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NEBRASKA IS A GREAT STATE FOR BUSINESSES TO GROW AND FLOURISH

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 2004

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member commends to his colleagues the 
following article from the March 10, 2004, Lincoln Journal Star. 
According to the article, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce conducted a 
national survey of 1,402 senior corporate attorneys on the business 
litigation environment in the different states. This article indicates 
that Nebraska is ranked second out of the 50 states in this survey 
which took into account factors such as the treatment of liability and 
class action lawsuits; punitive damages, fairness and competence of 
juries, and judge impartiality.
  This U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey illustrates that Nebraska is a 
great state for businesses to grow and flourish. Businesses should want 
to locate in a state like Nebraska which has a fair judicial system, 
among the many positive attributes of this great state. As a result of 
the findings of this survey, this Member hopes that more businesses 
will move to Nebraska which will create additional jobs.

             [From the Lincoln Journal Star, Mar. 10, 2004]

                 State's Courts Rank Second in Fairness

       Omaha.--Nebraska's court system ranks second in fairness 
     when it comes to liability suits, according to a survey of 
     corporate attorneys by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
       It is the second year in a row Nebraska has been listed in 
     the top five of the pro-business group's survey.
       Nebraska's good liability reputation can help the state 
     business-wise, the group said.
       ``Businesses go where they are wanted and they bring jobs 
     and economic growth to states with the best legal systems,'' 
     Thomas Donahue, the U.S. Chamber president, said in a 
     statement.
       The chamber's study says 80 percent of the 1,402 senior 
     corporate attorneys surveyed said the ``litigation 
     environment'' in a state could affect such decisions at their 
     companies as where to locate or do business.
       The Chamber of Commerce's survey took such factors into 
     consideration as treatment of liability and class-action 
     suits, the issuance of punitive damages, judge impartiality 
     and competence, and the predictability and fairness of 
     juries.
       Delaware was rated the best, followed by Nebraska, 
     Virginia, Iowa and Idaho. Last year, the top five list was 
     Delaware, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Indiana.
       From best to worst, the bottom five in this year's Chamber 
     of Commerce survey were California, Louisiana, Alabama, West 
     Virginia and Mississippi.
       The survey is done by the Chamber of Commerce's Institute 
     for Legal Reform and is in its third year.
       The group says the wide gap the survey shows between the 
     best and worst states underscores the need for federal and 
     state reforms on class-action, asbestos litigation and 
     medical malpractice suits.


                        corporate court ranking

       National rankings of state court systems according to a 
     survey of 1,402 senior corporate attorneys by the U.S. 
     Chamber of Commerce:
       1. Delaware
       2. Nebraska
       3. Virginia
       4. Iowa
       5. Idaho
       6. Utah
       7. New Hampshire
       8. Minnesota
       9. Kansas
       10. Wisconsin
       11. Indiana
       12. Maine
       13. Colorado
       14. Arizona
       15. Wyoming
       16. North Dakota
       17. South Dakota
       18. Connecticut
       19. North Carolina
       20. Vermont
       21. Maryland
       22. New York
       23. Michigan
       24. Washington
       25. Tennessee
       26. New Jersey
       27. Oregon
       28. Massachusetts
       29. Georgia
       30. Pennsylvania
       31. Oklahoma
       32. Ohio
       33. Alaska
       34. Nevada
       35. Kentucky
       36. Rhode Island
       37. New Mexico
       38. Florida
       39. Hawaii
       40. South Carolina
       41. Missouri
       42. Arkansas
       43. Montana
       44. Illinois
       45. Texas
       46. California
       47. Louisiana
       48. Alabama
       49. West Virginia
       50. Mississippi

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