As a small business owner, I’ve spent decades working with other entrepreneurs who pour their hearts, savings, and time into building a profitable business that gives back to their community.
Through my business — the Shore Update, a community publication mailed to more than 20,000 homes in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland — I’ve met hundreds of small business owners navigating everything from inflation to labor shortages.
But no challenge generates more anxiety than the growing risk of frivolous lawsuits.
Even the most careful business owner can find themselves targeted by claims designed not to seek justice, but to squeeze a settlement. From slip-and-fall cases to inflated injury claims, the system has become a cash cow for predatory billboard layers. These lawsuits don’t just hurt one business — they raise insurance premiums across the board, drive up consumer costs, and discourage job creation.
Here in Florida, we’ve made important strides to fix that. The Legislature’s 2023 legal reform package took aim at predatory legal tactics and began restoring fairness to our courts. But that progress must continue. Lawmakers should crack down on deceptive and fear-based legal advertising that targets vulnerable residents. There needs to be increased transparency in relationships between attorneys and medical providers, and a cap on excessive fees and damages that fuel abusive litigation.
When small businesses thrive, communities thrive. But when they’re forced to operate under constant legal threat, everyone pays a hefty price.
Florida doesn’t have to be one of the most litigious states in the nation. We must continue to fight against lawsuit abuse and ensure that our legal system prioritizes fairness over fortune-hunting.
Cheri Hoffman is the owner of ShoreUpdate.com, a publication mailed to 20,000 homes in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. A resident of Brevard County, Florida, she works closely with small business owners across multiple states to help promote their services to potential customers.
