We’re fighting for
Civil Justice Reform
Lawsuits are driving away doctors and costing New Mexico businesses millions of dollars every year.
In 2014, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a report that listed New Mexico as “having one of the 10 worst lawsuit climates for business in the nation.”
Tort lawyers chase the money, and any business may be sued for damages that could result in verdicts worth millions of dollars.
New Mexico legislators previously attempted to provide some protections to those in the medical community by enacting a law that placed a cap on the amount of money that could be awarded in a civil malpractice lawsuit.
However, in 2018 that law was struck down by a state court judge in — you guessed it — Judicial District 2 (read “A Better Judiciary”). This opened up doctors to lawsuits that could cost them millions. With no monetary caps on the malpractice verdicts, New Mexico juries are persuaded to award huge amounts, costing businesses millions of dollars – and meaning big paydays for tort lawyers.
In such a hostile legal environment, what incentive do doctors have to stay in New Mexico?
Prior to the 2018 ruling by the court, an Albuquerque oncologist feared the worst for the medical community if the law was reversed:
"We have a very difficult time in New Mexico attracting physicians to our state...One of the things I have used when I try to recruit is that we have a very good and very rational medical malpractice law. If that changes, it will make it even more difficult to bring good physicians here."
New Mexico is suffering from a volatile environment for businesses due to the influence of tort lawyers. From forum/venue shopping to an avalanche of medical malpractice lawsuits (read “Doctors Forced Out”) to thousands of dollars being poured into elections to pick favorable judges — tort lawyers have a stranglehold on the state.
As physician Sean Dow pointed out:
“The system is inefficient, costly and plagued with abuse, often punishing providers who have done no wrong…the current malpractice situation is badly in need of repair.”
Out-of-state tort lawyers from the 1% have flooded New Mexico in the hopes of going after hard working New Mexico businesses for multimillion-dollar payouts. It’s time we stop their attacks.
Business owners and doctors shouldn’t have to live in constant fear of lawsuits
We are committed to reforming our civil justice system to protect doctors and businesses from tort lawyers who seek millions and millions of dollars in damages. These verdicts serve as significant deterrents for doctors and businesses to remain in state, driving out the services we depend upon.
We have the responsibility to balance the needs of making our state a business-friendly environment, while ensuring rightful victims have the ability to seek justice. Currently, the scales tilt too heavily in favor of payday-seeking tort lawyers.
¡Mañana Mejor! is working to reform our civil justice system so that doctors and businesses can once again have peace of mind that tort lawyers won’t put them out of business.