Houston Daily

Josh Hammer, host of The Josh Hammer Show, has said that predatory litigation harms Americans and praised Florida's tort reform as an example of effective policy. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

"For far too long, predatory litigation and "billboard lawyer" culture have harmed Americans' real quality of life," said Hammer. "Florida has chosen a different tort reform course—and in this, as in other ways, our state has led by example."

Tort reform has been advancing across the United States, with states like Florida and Georgia enacting limits on attorney fees, liability, and third-party litigation funding. Additionally, federal judges have approved the first nationwide rule to govern multidistrict mass-tort cases. According to the Associated Press and Reuters, these changes reflect concerns over "social inflation" and rising lawsuit costs.

The U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform estimated that tort costs amounted to $529 billion in 2022—approximately 2.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and more than $4,200 per household. Reuters also reported a 14% decline in new federal lawsuits in 2024, with personal injury filings decreasing by 41% year over year following the conclusion of the 3M earplug mass-tort settlement.

Florida's House Bill 837 prompted a record surge of lawsuits before its effective date on March 24, 2023, as plaintiffs sought to file under older, more favorable rules. Since then, litigation levels have decreased, with regulators noting a shift in insurer outcomes and legal costs. This information is according to The Florida Bar News and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

Hammer is a conservative lawyer, columnist, and commentator who serves as Newsweek’s senior editor-at-large while hosting The Josh Hammer Show. He previously practiced at Kirkland & Ellis and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is also syndicated with Creators Syndicate.

The Josh Hammer Show is a Newsweek podcast and weekly syndicated radio program featuring political, cultural, and legal commentary from a conservative perspective. According to Newsweek’s podcast listings, the program extends Hammer’s columns and newsletter to a broader audience through interviews and analysis.