Actions by state senators place West Virginia on Lawsuit Inferno list

West Virginia's placement on the American Tort Reform Association's 2025 Lawsuit Inferno list stems from the Senate Judiciary Committee's rejection of two significant tort reform bills. Senate Bill 473 would have required plaintiffs to prove existing medical conditions caused by defendants, while Senate Bill 543 aimed to enhance local government oversight in hiring private attorneys. ATRA President Tiger Joyce criticized the committee for allowing personal injury attorneys to influence legislation. Of the 26 bills aimed at expanding legal liabilities, 22 were sponsored by Judiciary Committee members, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Senator Patricia Rucker, who sponsored ten liability-expanding bills, received approximately $25,000 in campaign contributions from personal injury attorneys.

The report highlights that lawsuit costs result in an annual "tort tax" of $676 per person, leading to significant economic repercussions, including over 10,000 job losses. West Virginia had previously been removed from the Judicial Hellhole list in 2017 after implementing tort reform measures. The current legislative stance raises questions about the future of legal reform in the state.