Tort reform refers to a movement designed to limit damages and exposure in a wide variety of tort suits. Much of tort reform focuses on limiting damages in products liability and medical malpractice cases. Many tort reform proponents also emphasize—as mentioned earlier in the text—the danger of large punitive damage awards.

Tort reform proponents warn about the high costs that lawsuits and damage awards have on the creation of products, small businesses, and rising medical costs. Tort reform advocates claim that there has been a litigation explosion filled with frivolous lawsuits that drives up the costs of doing business for everyone, which ultimately leads to increased costs placed upon consumers. The issue has even come up during presidential campaigning, as candidates have sparred about issues surrounding health care reform and medical malpractice.