Bill to close lawsuit loophole passes Texas House

TLR Press Release, April 25, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sherry Sylvester (210) 241-5296
sherrysylvester@satx.rr.com

(Austin, Texas) Texans for Lawsuit Reform joined with Texas ports and the maritime industry, including every dredging company doing business in Texas, to applaud the passage of CSHB 1602, introduced by Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale, R-Houston. The bill will close a loophole in Texas venue law that has resulted in an explosion of lawsuits against the dredging industry in South Texas. TLR Chairman and CEO Dick Weekley said:

"Texas' maritime industry is being deluged by one of the most egregious examples of lawsuit abuse we have seen. This state cannot afford to have our ports and waterways, which contribute $178 billion to our economy and $5 billion in state and local taxes every year - crippled by those who are exploiting a loophole in our state venue law."

Weekley said the lawsuit abuse, perpetrated by a handful of lawyers in just four South Texas counties, is currently aimed mostly at dredgers, but will certainly spread to other maritime industries, such as tugboats and barges, if the venue loophole is not closed.

"That is why the entire maritime industry is supporting this bill," Weekley said.

TLR joins dozens of maritime industry companies and associations, ports and businesses in supporting CSHB 1602. A complete list of supporters is attached.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the state's largest civil justice reform organization, is a bipartisan, volunteer-led coalition with more than 15,000 supporters residing in more than 757 Texas communities and representing 1,253 different businesses, professions and trades.

SUPPORTERS OF CSHB 1602

*Reforming Lawsuit Abuse in the Maritime Industry*

PORTS, NAVIGATION DISTRICTS & CITIES

Port of Beaumont	Port of Palacios
Port of Brownsville	Port of Port Arthur
Port of Harlingen	Port of Port Isabel / San Benito Navigation District
Port of Houston Authority	Port of Port Lavaca / Point Comfort
Jackson County Navigation District	Port of Victoria / Victoria Navigation District
Port Mansfield / Willacy County Navigation District	Port of West Calhoun
Port of Orange	City of Port Aransas
	City of South Padre Island

ASSOCIATIONS

Association of Chemical Industry of Texas	Texas Association of Manufacturers
Dredging Contractors of America	Texas Chemical Council
Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association	Texas Civil Justice League
Greater Houston Partnership	Texas Hotel & Lodging Association
Lumberman™s Association of Texas	Texas Medical Association
Maritime Jobs for Texas	Texas Oil & Gas Association
National Federation of Independent Business	Texas Ports Association
Property Casuality Insurers Association	Texas Retailers Association
Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Association	Texas Society of Professional Engineers
Texas Apartment Association	Texas Waterway Operators Association
Texas Association of Builders	Texans for Lawsuit Reform
TX Chapter - American Shore & Beach Preservation Assoc
Texas Association of Business

COMPANIES

Affolter Contracting	Martin Gas Marine
Alafab, Inc.	Megafleet Towing
Anadarko Petroleum	Mike Hooks Dredging
Bollinger Shipyards	Occidental Petroleum Corporation
Buffalo Marine Service	Oil Patch Petroleum
Central Gulf Towing	Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel
CF Bean Corporation	RLB Contracting, Inc.
Chevron USA	Shell Oil Company
CITGO Petroleum Corporation	Sherwin Alumina
Delta Towing	Steel Processors, Inc.
Dow Chemical	T&T Marine
Exxon Mobil Corporation	Temple-Inland Inc.
Gahagan Bryant Associates	Trinity Industries, Inc.
Goodloe Marine	T.W. LaQuay Dredging
Great Lakes Dredge Dock Company	United Tugs
Hagler Systems	Valero Energy Corporation
Inland Marine Management	Weeks Marine Company
Kiewit	Williamson Boat Works
Kingfisher Marine	Zachry Group. Inc.
Kirby Corporation