A forum on Lawsuit Reform was held in Baton Rouge on Tuesday and two of the major Gubernatorial candidates attended, Senator David Vitter and Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne.
Vitter began by describing Louisiana as "a judicial hellhole."
"There's clearly an issue regarding litigation in Louisiana," says Dardenne.
Both Republicans are lawyers and were asked about lowering the Louisiana jury trial threshold for civil suits. Currently, if suit is brought for less than $50,000, the case is heard by a judge. Anything above that is heard by a jury. At $50,000, Louisiana has the highest threshold in the nation.
Vitter says that’s a problem, and if elected Governor, would get rid of the threshold completely.
Dardenne believes the threshold should be lowered, but would not eliminate it. "I think the appropriate middle ground is going from $50,000 to $25,000," he says.
The candidates were also asked about legacy lawsuits, which seek cleanup of soil contamination left behind by oil and gas companies.
"First and foremost," says Dardenne, "we want to make sure that the environmental damage is addressed and repaired when funds are awarded by a court to do just that."
Vitter’s sights are set on cleaning up the lawsuits, which he calls abusive. "That’s what it is, a trial lawyer cottage industry built on abuse," says Vitter.
Of course, just ten days away from the primary, there was the expected exchange of words between the two candidates over attack ads. "The trial lawyers," says Vitter, "have organized and are literally spending $4 million to attack me in this campaign. That trial lawyer PAC is actively supporting all three of my major candidates." Dardenne disagreed. Vitter "is feeling attacked. He's the one attacking," he says.
Referencing the role Super PACs are playing in the Gubernatorial election, Dardenne added, "Louisiana is not going to be bought. Senator, She is not for sale."