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.

  • About TLR
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Timeline of Reforms
  • Videos
  • Issues
  • Resource Center
    • Special Reports
    • In the News
    • Press Releases
    • The Advocate
    • TLR Blog: For the Record
    • Invite a TLR Speaker
  • Get Involved
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Stay Informed
For the Record

When a Cottage Industry Backfires

In the past few months, we’ve spoken often about the ubiquitous presence of legal services advertising on the airwaves.

In addition to your standard car wreck and mesothelioma ads, ads targeting specific products, medications or medical devices are designed to catch people’s attention and compel them to take action (specifically, to call a lawyer).

But recently, there’s been a turn of events in one advertising cottage industry.

The New York Times reported last year on a widespread scheme targeting women with pelvic mesh implants. Using aggressive tactics, including cold calls to their homes and alarming advertising, the women were coaxed into having risky and often unnecessary surgical procedures to remove the mesh. According to the Times, these procedures made the women “more lucrative plaintiffs against medical device manufacturers.”

The women were told they wouldn’t have to pay up front for the cost of the procedure, and that their lawsuit awards would cover their expenses, plus some.

Many of the women suffered severe adverse reactions to the removal of the mesh, which is designed to adhere to tissue once it’s implanted. The procedures—which were often done quickly and at a surgical center in a strip mall—left them in extreme pain and with lifelong complications.

Unfortunately, many of the women found that once the costs of the lawsuit and surgery were removed from their legal awards, they were left with next to nothing. Some were left facing more expenses from the long term adverse effects of having the mesh removed.

Last week, the Times reported that some of the women have had enough.

“In recent weeks, women who received some of roughly $8 billion in settlements have sued their lawyers, accusing them of improperly enriching themselves with excessive fees or stretching themselves too thin to properly handle the pelvic mesh cases… The new suits are shining a light on some of the bad practices that can occur in mass tort cases, which sometimes operate like an assembly line, with lawyers rushing to sign up as many clients as they can and plaintiffs never getting a chance to speak to a lawyer.”

Texas firms have been named in these lawsuits. Among the claims against the firms is the allegation that the plaintiffs were never told their cases would be farmed out to another law firm to handle.

Cases like this are part of the reason why Texas passed Senate Bill 1189, creating common-sense consumer protections in advertisements for legal services. With this bill, ads for legal services must not use alarming language like “medical alert” or “health alert.” They must state that you should not stop using a medication without consulting a physician. And they must state who is paying for the ad and whether the firm in the ad will actually be the one to handle the case.

Imagine if these protections had already been in place. These women might have thought twice about signing up for a surgical procedure without consulting their doctors first. They might have questioned why their cases were not going to be handled by the law firm in the ad. And they might never have been scared enough by the language in these ads to sign up for a risky surgical procedure and litigation in the first place.

Knowledge is power. Texas is leading the nation in empowering consumers against deceptive and alarming legal services ads. Hopefully other states will soon follow suit so we can prevent another dangerous cottage industry like the one around pelvic mesh from popping up.

Follow us on Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

9 hours ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Texas is less safe, less prepared and less resilient in recovery without commercial vehicles. Stopping abusive lawsuits against them will make or break our ability to handle the next natural disaster our state faces. Read and share the latest TLR blog: bit.ly/301JNQl ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Disaster Preparedness, Response, Recovery

bit.ly

The pandemic and recent winter storms have highlighted a stark reality: Commercial vehicles are essential for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Whether they’re carrying life-saving medic...
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 1
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

11 hours ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Happy Texas Independence Day! ... See MoreSee Less

Happy Texas Independence Day!
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 16
  • Shares: 4
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

👏💯

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

1 day ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Abusive lawsuits against commercial vehicles are hurting Texas jobs and businesses. Your lawmakers in the Texas Legislature need to hear from you. Ask them to support Senate Bill 17, Senate Bill 207, House Bill 19, and House Bill 1617. Take action: ow.ly/SDaD50DNgSb ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Write your Texas Lawmakers – Keep Texas Trucking Coalition

ow.ly

Abusive lawsuits against commercial vehicles are hurting Texas jobs and businesses. Your representatives in the Texas Legislature need to hear from you. Ask them to support Senate Bill 17, Senate Bill...
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 2
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook


Follow us on Twitter

lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
4h 1366871080066031621

TLR has thousands of supporters across Texas who are committed to a fair and balanced civil justice system. Join our team today!

Get Involved - Texans for Lawsuit Reform

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

bit.ly

Reply on Twitter 1366871080066031621Retweet on Twitter 1366871080066031621Like on Twitter 13668710800660316211Twitter 1366871080066031621
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
6h 1366840995162300419

TLR is working to make the Texas legal system fair, efficient and accessible for all. Learn more:

About - Texans for Lawsuit Reform

TLR's objective is to restore litigation to its traditional and appropriate role in our society. A lawsuit takes a heavy emotional and financial toll ...

bit.ly

Reply on Twitter 1366840995162300419Retweet on Twitter 1366840995162300419Like on Twitter 1366840995162300419Twitter 1366840995162300419
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
9h 1366795813746278404

Texas is less safe, less prepared & less resilient in recovery without commercial vehicles. Stopping abusive lawsuits against them will make or break our ability to handle the next natural disaster Texas faces. Read & RT the latest TLR blog: #tortreform

Disaster Preparedness, Response, Recovery

The pandemic and recent winter storms have highlighted a stark reality: Commercial vehicles are essential for disaster preparedness, response and reco...

bit.ly

Reply on Twitter 1366795813746278404Retweet on Twitter 1366795813746278404Like on Twitter 1366795813746278404Twitter 1366795813746278404

Texans for Lawsuit Reform
1701 Brun Street
Houston, Texas 77019

Ph. 713-963-9363
  • About TLR
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Timeline of Reforms
  • Videos
  • Issues
  • Resource Center
  • For the Record
  • Special Reports
  • In the News
  • Press Releases
  • Invite a TLR Speaker
  • Get Involved
  • Invite a TLR Speaker
  • Donate
  • Stay Informed
  • Contact TLR

Copyright © 2021 · Texans for Lawsuit Reform. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy