By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the business climate in Missouri is getting better.
The group released its annual ranking Monday of the perceived fairness of each state's legal system.
Missouri placed 35th, up from 40th last year. Illinois moved up one slot to 45th.
The rankings are based on a survey of corporate attorneys. They rated states on criteria including venue requirements and treatment of class action suits.
Humphrey Taylor is chairman of the Harris Poll, which conducted the study.
"It is not just a beauty contest. It is not just a horse race," Taylor said. "As our data show, the results clearly do influence the decisions by many corporations as to where they actually invest and where they create jobs and where they don't."
The Chamber credits recent changes to Missouri's medical malpractice laws for the higher ranking.
But consumer groups and trial lawyers say the study is an unfair defense of corporate wrongdoers.