May 26, 2005

The Economic Policy Institute, a group closely tied to labor unions, has released a report rehashing the lawsuit lobby's "it's all just a myth" take on the litigation problem. In particular, like ATLA and the Center for Justice and Democracy before them, EPI is extremely concerned to discredit the cost estimates periodically put out by Tillinghast/Towers Perrin of the tort system's direct burden on the U.S. economy. Rather than just sit and be sniped at, Tillinghast/Towers Perrin has put out a defense of its numbers (PDF), which in turn provoked an EPI attempt at rebuttal (PDF). Insurance Journal covers the controversy here and here.