Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Through political action, legal, academic and market research, and grassroots initiatives, TLR fights for common-sense reforms that keep Texas open for business.

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For the Record

Friend of the Court

If you’ve been around the world of TLR for a while, you likely know by now that we are constantly studying how the lawsuit reforms that Texas has passed over the last 25 years are affecting our legal system, and in turn, the lives of Texans.

We speak regularly with attorneys and judges who work with these laws every day. Sometimes the legislation is applied in ways that were never intended by lawmakers. When this happens, as was the case this session with the SLAPP law, we work with stakeholders to find a legislative solution that clarifies the legislation and addresses the misuse of the law.

Other times, the reforms Texas passes are challenged in the course of litigation. When that happens, we stand ready to provide context and vigorously defend the intent and application of the legislation through amicus briefs.

Amicus curiae is Latin and literally translates to “friend of the court.” These briefs are provided by people who are not party to a lawsuit, but have an interest in its outcome. 

TLR has submitted many amicus briefs over the years, including in a lawsuit filed by storm-chasing lawyer Eric Dick after Hurricane Harvey. This cookie cutter lawsuit was filed 30 days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, alleging the insurance company failed to pay the policyholder’s claim on time. Since September 2017, Dick has filed about 40 other such lawsuits against 30 insurance companies. 

As the brief notes, “the face of the Plaintiff’s pleading in this case shows that the date of loss was exactly 30 days before the date the lawsuit was filed… The defendant insurance company could not have violated the Texas Insurance Code’s prompt payment of claims statute in that amount of time, given that the statute gives the insurance company several weeks to acknowledge, investigate, and pay a claim before a statutory violation occurs.”

Additionally, the brief notes that House Bill 1774, which the Legislature passed in 2017 to shut down lawsuit abuses by storm-chasing lawyers, was designed specifically to address cases like this.

“…the new law (HB 1774) is designed to protect individuals from storm-chasing attorneys who seek to profit from their misfortune while, at the same time, leaving policyholders with substantial remedies against insurance companies that fail to pay claims on time and in full.”

Earlier this month, the Harris County trial court entered a judgment against Dick’s client in the case, finding that Dick had failed to show that the property damage he attributed to the storm was covered by the insurance policy.

Amicus briefs are just one way TLR fights to preserve the hard-won lawsuit reforms passed by the Texas Legislature. With strong legislative advocacy and public education, we are keeping up the fight to keep Texas as the national example of successful, common-sense lawsuit reforms.

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Texans for Lawsuit Reform

23 hours ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

In case you missed it: Texas judges are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The nature of our state’s partisan election system requires judges to raise money to run political campaigns to serve. Because judicial campaigns are lower profile than other races on the ballot, few voters know about the judges or are willing to make contributions to their campaigns. Instead, the natural constituency for judicial fundraising is attorneys and law firms. But the idea of judges raising money from lawyers who have appeared or might appear in their courtrooms leaves a bad taste in many Texans’ mouths. Read and share: bit.ly/355ziMH ... See MoreSee Less

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A Rock and A Hard Place

tortreform.com

The nature of our state’s partisan election system requires judges to raise money to run political campaigns to be elected or re-elected to a seat on the bench. Because judicial campaigns...
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Texans for Lawsuit Reform

2 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Trial lawyer ads are everywhere: television, the radio, even on social media. Many ads use blaring headlines, dire warnings, and even government agency logos to claim doctor-prescribed medications could be deadly... These ads promise big money if consumers sign up to sue. Read and share: bit.ly/357SEAR ... See MoreSee Less

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Misleading TV Ads Make Trial Lawyers Rich

tortreform.com

Trial lawyer ads are everywhere: television, the radio, even on social media. Many ads use blaring headlines, dire warnings, and even government agency logos to cl...
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Fuck you guys. It's Impossible to sue in Texas no matter what happens to you. Google a lawsuit in Tarrant County District Court 141 filed by myself where I'm fighting 20 attorneys.

They are the real problem. Mainly because they buddies in every legislature write the laws to favor them and not us! Fire them all!

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

3 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

More than 500 cities and counties opted out of the unprecedented “negotiation class” proposed by plaintiff lawyers to settle sprawling opioid litigation, leaving 98% of the 34,458 U.S. cities and counties technically still in the class. Read and share: bit.ly/38pcGJ0 ... See MoreSee Less

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More than 500 cities and counties reject opioid class action, will pursue lawsuits on their own

tortreform.com

More than 500 cities and counties opted out of the unprecedented “negotiation class” proposed by plaintiff lawyers to settle sprawling opioid litigation, leaving 98&pe...
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lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
18h

Sign up for the TLR Weekly News Roundup to receive a daily digest of headlines & news stories about lawsuit reform from Texas & around the country!

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lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
21h

Join us in pursuing our mission of creating a fair, balanced and predictable legal system!

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lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
23h

#ICYMI: It’s time Texas took a hard look at our antiquated system of electing all of our state’s judges. Texas is one of only six states to do so. Read & RT: #lawsuitreform #tortreform

A Rock and A Hard Place

The nature of our state’s partisan election system requires judges to raise money to run political campaigns to be elected or re-elected to a se...

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Texans for Lawsuit Reform
1701 Brun Street
Houston, Texas 77019

Ph. 713-963-9363
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All rights reserved.
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