About us.
The Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York (LRANY) is a broad-based coalition of hardworking New York business leaders, professionals and consumers who are committed to changing New York’s burdensome and expensive legal system to help create more jobs and energize our state’s economy.
Who we are. What we do.
Why lawsuit reform is important.
We are an association of businesses, healthcare providers, membership organizations, and concerned taxpayers committed to fixing New York’s civil justice system to help create jobs and energize the state’s economy.
The Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York is a nonpartisan not-for-profit grassroots organization dedicated to reducing lawsuit abuse for the benefit of all New Yorkers.
New Yorkers spend an estimated $6,600 per household on tort liability costs annually, more than any other state in the country.
There is one lawyer for every 112 residents, the most of any state and more than twice the national average.
There are no limits on punitive damages in New York.
Court judgments accrue 9% interest annually.
New York leads the nation in medical malpractice payouts — an amount that reached $434,154,550 in 2022.
Nearly one-fifth of all medical liability payouts in the US are made in New York.
New Yorkers spend 40% more than the national average on car insurance annually
Our partners.
Join the numerous businesses and organizations that are fighting for law reform in New York State.
Meet the team.
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Tom Stebbins
Executive Director
tstebbins@lrany.org
Prior to joining LRANY in 2011, Tom was a project manager for Horizon Wind Energy, where he developed multiple commercial-scale wind farms in New York and the Northeast United States. Earlier in his career, Tom worked for PBS flagship station WGBH-TV, where he coordinated the national marketing and promotion efforts for programs such as NOVA, Masterpiece Theatre, and Antiques Roadshow.
Tom has been published or quoted in over one hundred publications, including The New York Times, NY Daily News, the Wall Street Journal, and The Economist, and Tom has been interviewed on numerous broadcast radio and TV shows, including NPR, Fox News, and 1010 WINS. He is also a sought-after speaker who has spoken to dozens of organizations across New York -- from Buffalo to Brooklyn, from Rotaries to multi-national business conferences.
Tom is currently on the advisory board of the Progressive Policy Institute and is a previous board member of the Empire State Society of Association Executives.
In his spare time, Tom is an accomplished benefit auctioneer, emcee, and fundraiser who has helped raise millions of dollars for charities all over the world. Tom is personally devoted to the issue of head injury and has worked with his family to build four homes dedicated to the care of people affected by head injuries. Tom has a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and an MBA from Cornell University.
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Kate Hobday
Manager of Operations, Research & Development
khobday@lrany.org
Kate joined the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York in 2012 as a research intern. Since that time, she has assisted in the research of multiple reports, and was named Manager of Operations, Research and Development in January 2018. In that capacity she oversees the organization’s general operations and engages in fundraising, administration, and membership development.
Prior to working for LRANY, Kate worked with people with traumatic brain injuries at Hilltop Manor in Niskayuna and Living Resources in Albany.
Possessing a dedication to continued education, Kate holds an Associate’s Degree in Human Services from Hudson Valley Community College, a bachelor’s in English from the University at Albany, a bachelor’s in Law and Society from Sage Colleges of Albany, and a certification in Grant Writing obtained in 2015. She currently resides in Albany.
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Emily Haley
Legal Intern
Emily joined the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York in May 2023 as a legal intern. She provides reports on appellate court decisions, legal news, and conducts research projects. Emily is currently a third-year Law Student at the University at Buffalo. Emily graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in political science and psychology. Prior to law school, she worked as a legal assistant at two firms in the Buffalo area. In her free time, Emily enjoys spinning and spending time with family and friends.