Texans for Lawsuit Reform

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For the Record

TLR Statement on COVID-19 Liability

Any Imposition of Liability Related to the Coronavirus Must be Based on Standards that Recognize these Extraordinary Circumstances

April 20, 2020

As our nation copes with the coronavirus pandemic, we are all concerned about the health and well being of our families and neighbors. We are in this together. We are experiencing a devotion to duty and a level of responsibility throughout our society that is inspiring and reminiscent of our national effort during World War II. 

Great courage and determination are being displayed by our healthcare providers, first responders, and the workers who are keeping the essential elements of our economy functioning – food producers, truckers, manufacturers of needed products, warehouse workers, and grocers, to name a few.

As a nation, we have before us the formidable tasks of controlling and defeating the virus, restoring our society, and rebuilding our economy. A tsunami of plaintiff-lawyer inspired litigation will not assist our efforts. Quite the contrary. Greed-driven mass litigation will cause delay and division and impose costs that will hamper our recovery and impede the ability of our businesses and industries to restore our economy to its pre-virus vigor and bring us back to full employment. 

Businesses and professionals are dealing with unique and challenging circumstances. Innovation and adaptability are required both to respond to the health issues caused by the virus and to reopen our economy. They deserve reasonable protections. The federal and state governments – in executive orders, administrative regulations and legislation – should provide reasonable liability protections to our healthcare providers and businesses, including forward-looking protections for businesses as they restart and recover from this global pandemic. 

Any liability related to this pandemic should take into account that the virus itself is the essential cause of harm. Businesses and professionals should not be penalized by lawsuits that seek to blame the blameless. A plaintiff should be required to show a direct causation link between the defendant and the harm suffered by the plaintiff. Essential businesses should not face liability based on the clarity of 20/20 hindsight. Instead, liability should incur only if their actions were reckless in a time of great uncertainty. For our healthcare providers, working under demanding circumstances, liability should be imposed only for intentional harmful acts or gross negligence. And no business or professional should face liability if it acts in good faith in following government guidance when reopening while the pandemic remains a threat. 

Let’s work together to defeat this virus pandemic and prevent a tsunami of greed-fed litigation.

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Texans for Lawsuit Reform

22 hours ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

In case you missed it - 15 Harris County judges resolved fewer felony cases during the pandemic, and all 23 courts have more pending cases now than when the COVID epidemic began. As of March, there were over 48,000 pending active cases in Criminal District Court. Read and share: bit.ly/3yeuPc7 ... See MoreSee Less

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'Do your job,' victim tells judge in Harris County's slowest court

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Fifteen judges resolved fewer felony cases during the pandemic and all 23 courts have more pending cases now than when the pandemic began. Harris County Judge Ramona Franklin, of the 338th Criminal Di...
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Texans for Lawsuit Reform

2 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

The Dallas County DA argued a judge’s impartiality could reasonably be questioned after she lowered a defendant’s bail considerably while his defense lawyer is one of her top campaign contributors, and then raised his bail after media reports about her rulings. Read and share: bit.ly/3lfQMzM ... See MoreSee Less

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Dallas judge under scrutiny for bail rulings recuses herself from cases

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Judge Chika Anyiam, of Criminal District Court 7, recused herself Monday from 10 felony cases against Julio Guerrero. A Dallas County judge who faced public scrutiny for lowering a murder suspect’s ...
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Texans for Lawsuit Reform

3 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

TLR General Counsel Lee Parsley joined the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform podcast to discuss nuclear verdicts in the trucking industry and what legislators can do to ensure that excessive lawsuits don't shut down this vital industry. Listen and share: bit.ly/3wjgKJ9 ... See MoreSee Less

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Nuclear Verdicts Create Litigation "Vortex" for Trucking Industry

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In this episode of Cause for Action, Nathan Morris, senior vice president, legal reform advocacy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, is joined by Lee Parsley, the general couns...
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lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
16h 1527408930703523840

Since TLR’s founding, our supporters have made their voices heard at the Capitol by phone, e-mail, & personal visits on every issue that affects a healthy civil justice system. Make your voice heard & get involved with TLR today!

Get Involved

Texans for Lawsuit Reform has thousands of supporters from across Texas who are committed to a fair and balanced civil justice system.

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lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
22h 1527318698804908040

#ICYMI: 15 Harris County judges resolved fewer felony cases during the pandemic & all 23 courts have more pending cases now than when the COVID epidemic began. As of March, there were over 48,000 pending active cases in Criminal District Court. Read & RT:

'Do your job,' victim tells judge in Harris County's slowest court

Fifteen judges resolved fewer felony cases during the pandemic and all 23 courts have more pending cases now than when the pandemic began. Harris Coun...

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Reply on Twitter 1527318698804908040Retweet on Twitter 15273186988049080402Like on Twitter 15273186988049080401Twitter 1527318698804908040
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
18 May 1527046564635721728

Want to make a difference in the fight against lawsuit abuse? Join the TLR team today! #stoplawsuitabuse

Get Involved

Texans for Lawsuit Reform has thousands of supporters from across Texas who are committed to a fair and balanced civil justice system.

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Reply on Twitter 1527046564635721728Retweet on Twitter 1527046564635721728Like on Twitter 1527046564635721728Twitter 1527046564635721728

Texans for Lawsuit Reform
1701 Brun Street
Houston, Texas 77019

Ph. 713-963-9363
  • About TLR
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Timeline of Reforms
  • Videos
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  • For the Record
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  • Invite a TLR Speaker
  • Get Involved
  • Invite a TLR Speaker
  • Donate
  • Stay Informed
  • Contact TLR

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