Unfortunately, large corporations and insurance companies have spread myths regarding our civil justice system to promote unneeded changes in the law that they call "reform."

Myth #1
Doctors are leaving the state, because of high malpractice verdicts.

False.
Figures from the state medical board show the number of doctors in the state of Ohio are increasing 5% per year. Myth #2
There is a litigation explosion of lawsuits in Ohio.

False.
The number of product liability cases filed in 2002 for the entire state of Ohio was 500. This number has been declining since 1999.
The number of injury cases filed have been declining. For instance, in Ashland County, there were only 4 malpractice cases filed in 2002.
In fact, the number of business against business lawsuits outnumber the number of personal injury lawsuits 4 to 1.
Myth #3
There are too many frivolous malpractice cases.

False.

1. There were 1500 malpractice lawsuits filed in 2006 and of those, only 134 went to trial, an average of less than 3 per week in the entire state. On the other hand, there were 79,000 foreclosures filed in the state of Ohio in 2006.
2. Before a case is filed, the case must be reviewed by a practicing expert doctor who has read the records. He/she must sign a sworn statement that the case has merit.
3. The judge must throw out meritless cases before a case ever goes to trial.
4. An attorney usually generates $50,000 - $100,000.00 in expenses to bring a case to trial. Does it make sense to spend that kind of money on a frivolous case?