For many years, Ohio was mired in one of the worst legal liability climates in the nation—rated as low as 43rd among the states. Business and jobs fled the state. During much of this decade, while the rest of the United States enjoyed robust growth and low unemployment, Ohioans felt as if they were living in an endless recession.

In an op-ed this week, Ohio State Sen. John Carey describes how legislators in Columbus finally reacted, passing measures in 2005 to lure business back into the Buckeye state. Among them were tort reform measures that moved Ohio’s legal liability climate from that 43rd place to 4th best in the nation, as rated by the venerable Pacific Research Institute in its latest report. “By reducing frivolous lawsuits,” Sen. Carey writes, “we can make Ohio a more attractive place to do business.”

And how. In 2005, there was $3.8 billion in new private investment projects planned in Ohio. Today $7 billion in new investment is planned.