The Lincoln lawyers — Is Illinois the land of lawsuits?

Illinois’ reputation for jackpot justice has landed three Illinois counties on the latest Judicial Hellhole report.

The annual report from them American Tort Reform Foundation ranks states and jurisdictions ripe for lawsuit abuse.

California tops the report’s Hellhole list, followed by New York, Louisiana and West Virginia.

Illinois is fifth on the list, not as a state but rather represented by Madison and St. Clair counties.

The two counties, across the river from St. Louis, have become one of the favorite locations for venue shopping lawyers looking for a big payday, said Travis Akin, executive director of Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch.

“This is more than just the occasional slip-and-fall lawsuit,” Akin told Illinois Watchdog. “This is a very systematic, very purposeful manipulation of our legal system in the state of Illinois.”

Akin said trial lawyers have found judges and juries who will hear cases with no ties to Illinois.

The Hellhole report notes that one in four of all asbestos cases in America are tried in Madison County.

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