Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse of Central Texas

August 14, 2009

AUSTIN, Texas – Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (“CALA”) of Central Texas, a non-profit grassroots movement dedicated to making the public better aware of the cost and consequences of lawsuit abuse, today announced the hiring of a new executive director, Stephanie D. Gibson, a proven grassroots organizer and fundraiser.

“Stephanie brings incredible contacts and a strong fundraising history at exactly the right time for this group,” said Clay McPhail, Chairman of the CenTex CALA Board of Directors and CEO of Cozumel Restaurant Group. “We’ve grown dramatically over the last several years, and Stephanie will help us reach out to an even greater number of supporters in the community and engage in more efforts to highlight lawsuit abuse and the need to protect the lawsuit reforms enacted in Texas”

Gibson brings new energy and a fresh approach to our non-profit group, McPhail said, adding that the CALA will benefit greatly from Gibson’s 19-plus years of experience in public relations, grass roots, strategic planning and fundraising within the public and private sectors.

“I am excited to be a part of this much-needed and innovative organization,” Gibson said. “The CenTex CALA is one of the most active CALAs in the nation and does an excellent job of reaching out to local consumers and small business people about how lawsuit abuse impacts their lives and their livelihoods.”

“Texas has a great story to tell because we’ve benefited so greatly from lawsuit reforms that have injected a healthy dose of common sense and fairness into Texas courts,” she said. “But when personal injury lawyers spend $9 million in an attempt to roll back these changes, it’s clear our work is even more relevant now than ever. Texas has experienced the positive impact of legal reforms, and we need to protect these changes to ensure ours remains a leading state in which to grow a business, practice medicine, volunteer and work in a healthy economic climate.”

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CALA is a nonprofit, grassroots public education movement dedicated to making the public better aware of the cost and consequences of lawsuit abuse. The movement is supported by more than 25,000 Texans. For more information, visit www.calactx.com.