Rankings Drop Driven in Part by Judicial Behavior

 

The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) routinely conducts a survey of in-house general counsels, senior litigators, and other senior executives at companies with at least $100 million in annual revenues with recent litigation experience in each state (within the last four years). 75% of survey respondents reported that a state’s litigation environment is likely to impact important business decisions at their companies such as whether to locate or do business in the state.

Down from 15^th in 2012, Wisconsin now ranks 20^th overall.  This drop was very disappointing given the significant reforms recently enacted in Wisconsin. As stated in the ILR Report, the Wisconsin ranking drop was driven by a poor ranking of our judiciary.  Survey participants ranked Wisconsin substantially lower this year in several key areas related to judges, including on enforcement of venue requirements (nine spot drop), treatment of class actions (20 spot drop), impartiality (eight spot drop) and on competence (10 spot drop).

• Overall treatment of tort and contract litigation – Wisconsin is ranked 21^st.
• Having and enforcing meaningful venue requirements – Wisconsin is ranked 22^nd.
• Treatment of class action suits and mass consolidation suits – Wisconsin is ranked 28^th.
• Damages – Wisconsin is ranked 17^th.
• Timeliness of summary judgement or dismissal – Wisconsin is ranked 16^th.
• Discovery – Wisconsin is ranked 17^th.
• Scientific and technical evidence – Wisconsin is ranked 19^th.
• Judges’ impartiality – Wisconsin is ranked 20^th.
• Judges’ competence – Wisconsin is ranked 24^th.
• Juries’ fairness – Wisconsin is ranked 21^st.

Full survey results can be found here.