Lawsuit reform has dramatically improved the fairness and efficiency of Texas' civil justice system. Just a few years ago, the Lone Star State held a position near the bottom of state rankings and was frequently a source of derision in the national media. Objective studies now place the state's civil justice system in the upper tier relative to many measures (though some challenges remain). This notable turnaround, from a legal system that was poorly regarded in several areas to one that is widely recognized as an effective model worthy of emulation, has brought substantial benefits.

In the wake of credit crises in both the mortgage and broader financial markets, Congress is busy conducting hearings and negotiating various proposals for regulatory reform with the executive branch. Following corporate accounting scandals at Enron, WorldCom and elsewhere several years ago, Congress quickly went to work tightening the regulation of corporate governance. So why has Congress yet to acknowledge, much less schedule a hearing, now that, within the past several months, three of the nation’s most powerful, widely known plaintiffs’ lawyers have all pled guilty to federal felonies in connection with their corruption of our civil justice system?

(AUSTIN, TX) April 28, 2008 – A new report by nationally recognized economist Ray Perryman shows lawsuit reforms enacted in Texas beginning in 1995 have boosted the state’s economy, created hundreds of thousands of jobs and given Texas a resounding competitive advantage in these challenging economic times.