American Tort Reform Association The American Tort Reform Association has released its annual "Judicial Hellholes" report, naming what the Association calls some of the nation’s most unfair civil court jurisdictions. And, while there are no Missouri areas on the list – St. Louis, St. Louis County, and Jackson County make the Association’s "Watch List" jurisdictions that are on the cusp, meaning they could fall into the "Hellhole" category.

Brad Jones, Missouri State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business , says there have been big improvements since litigation reform was passed in Missouri in 2005, but he says legal challenges have been chipping away at that law, adding there is reason for small businesses to be concerned. He fears frivolous lawsuits will cause small businesses to spend time and resources defending themselves against lawsuits.

Jones borrows a line from the movie "Animal House," saying that while Missouri is not on the "Hellholes" list, making the "Watch List" is comparable to being on what he calls "double secret probation."

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)