Statewide
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March 5, 2009
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Bill Shapard

Poll Results Indicate Oklahomans Overwhelmingly Demand Lawsuit Reform

OKLAHOMA CITY - A new survey released today finds that 64% of likely voting Oklahomans support the Oklahoma Legislature passing significant lawsuit reform and decreasing the number of lawsuits filed in Oklahoma.

More than 75% of Oklahomans believe that the number of lawsuits filed against businesses, doctors and hospitals in Oklahoma significantly increases the prices middle class families have to pay for products, services and medical care. Additionally, 80.9% of respondents support letting the voters decide if they want to lower the current maximum attorney fee from fifty percent to a lesser amount.

SoonerPoll.com, a public opinion research firm in Oklahoma City, conducted the telephone poll of 339 statewide likely voters this week commissioned for The State Chamber of Oklahoma. The margin of error for the survey was 5.3%.

Additional analysis indicates that slightly more Democrats than Republicans believe the number of lawsuits filed against businesses, doctors and hospitals significantly increases prices for middle class families. Republicans and Democrats equally support letting voters decide if they want to lower the current maximum attorney fee.

When asked if, overall, do you believe the number of lawsuits filed against businesses, doctors and hospitals in Oklahoma LOWER or INCREASE the prices Oklahoma's middle class families have to pay for products, services and medical care, 57.8% believed lawsuits significantly increase prices, with another 18.0% saying there is somewhat of an increase in prices.

In addition, likely voters were asked, 'do you support or oppose letting voters decide if they want to lower the current maximum attorney fee from fifty percent to a lesser amount,' 67.6% strongly support lowering the current fee, with another 13.3% who somewhat support lowering the fee.

A good majority of Oklahoman's also believe that without lawsuit reforms, Oklahoma will have a harder time keeping doctors from leaving the state and a harder time attracting businesses and jobs to the state.

Bill Shapard
About the Author

Bill Shapard

Bill is the founder of SoonerPoll.com and ShapardResearch, a full service market research firm based in Oklahoma City. Bill began his career in polling after working on major campaigns for both Republicans and Democrats in Oklahoma from 1996 until founding SoonerPoll in 2004.