Two pieces of legislation have been introduced to safeguard Texans from deceptive “bad drug” advertisements. SB 1189 and HB 2251, would protect patients by requiring advertisements to properly warn patients that it is dangerous to stop taking a prescribed medication before consulting with a physician. The legislation would not limit or ban drug-injury advertisements. It […]
A new report released by the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) reveals the rapid growth of large firms representing state and municipal governments in cases involving opioids and climate change in recent years. It raises important issues regarding the hiring of outside counsel and the deep pockets of private attorneys. The report points to several […]
What’s a felony that largely gets overlooked or ignored? It’s barratry – otherwise known as ambulance chasing – and the practice is clearly alive and well in Texas. Recently a personal injury lawyer was indicted for barratry, insurance fraud and money laundering. We must all stand up when our justice system is abused, and barratry […]
It’s the season to give, not receive. But many Texans may find themselves receiving the legal equivalent of a lump of coal in their stockings if they’re served a lawsuit instead of eggnog at their holiday party. Social host liability should be at the top of a host’s planning list for the holiday season. After […]
The annual Judicial Hellholes report has been released. The report examines civil justice trends over the previous year and identifies “Judicial Hellholes” — examples of jurisdictions where the civil justice system systematically applies laws and court procedures in an unfair and unbalanced manner. In the recent past, the Judicial Hellholes report has listed Texas as […]
Check out these economic impact studies analyzing excessive litigation costs in California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and West Virginia. The study estimates nearly a half-million permanent jobs were lost due to excessive litigation costs. California: Loss of 197,776 jobs and $11.8 billion in personal income. Florida: Loss of 126,139 jobs and $7.5 billion in personal […]
Fifteen years ago this fall, Texas voters did something truly dramatic. They approved a constitutional amendment that limits non-economic damage awards in lawsuits against doctors and hospitals. The reason for doing so was painfully obvious: Jury awards for subjective harm, like emotional distress, were soaring. At the time, questionable lawsuits and abusive legal practices were […]
AUSTIN — When it comes to protecting Texas’ courts from frivolous lawsuits, “It Starts With You.” That’s the message that Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse groups are delivering as they kick off Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week, which runs Oct. 1-5. “Our ‘It Starts With You’ message is aimed at reminding Texans that we all play a […]
Study Released by American Tort Reform Association: Trial Lawyers Spent $186 Million on Advertising in Second Quarter of 2018 California, Florida, Missouri, New York Among Top Media Markets Sept. 24, 2018 (WASHINGTON) — Today, the American Tort Reform Association released a study showing spending and top media markets for TV ads from trial lawyers. “Have you […]
For 20 years, Texas has stood on the forefront of common-sense lawsuit reform aimed at ensuring our courts are used for justice, not greed. Over the years, those changes have included reining in outrageous damage awards, court shopping and out-of-state asbestos lawsuits that had nothing to do with Texas. These and other reforms have allowed […]