The verdict is in: Third-party litigation funding contributes to high home insurance rates
What’s happening: The lucrative, billion dollar third-party litigation financing (TPLF) industry is helping drive the length and cost of litigation and contributing to increasing homeowners insurance premiums across the country. Keep reading Tell me more: While some argue that TPLF can provide financial support for plaintiffs who otherwise couldn’t afford legal representation, it often comes […]
Introducing Texas’s Fifteenth Court of Appeals
What’s happening: Expanding the specialization of our court system, the new Fifteenth Court of Appeals—which also begins operating in September—will handle appeals from the specialized business court as well as those involving the state or state agencies, including constitutional and administrative issues. ICYMI: Gov. Abbott has appointed Scott A. Brister, Scott K. Field and April […]
What Are Nuclear Verdicts
Here’s what happened: A recent report from the Institute for Legal Reform shows the widespread proliferation of nuclear verdicts in recent years. A nuclear verdict is a jury award that exceeds $10 million, often in personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, comprising noneconomic, economic and punitive damages. ICYMI: Nationwide, nuclear verdicts hit a 15-year high in 2023, […]
Ready to Rule: Texas Gov. Abbott Names Judges for New Dallas and Fort Worth Business Courts
Here’s what happened: Gov. Greg Abbott’s appointments to the new specialized business court are putting the spotlight on this highly coveted economic development tool ahead of its official launch in September. Catch-up quick: Last session, Texas became the 31st state to create a specialized business court overseen by highly qualified and experienced judges. The new […]
Catching Up on Texas’ New Courts
Here’s what happened: With Texas’ new business court and Fifteenth Court of Appeals coming online in September, some recent moves are putting these critical new venues in the national spotlight. Expert judges: Last week, Gov. Abbott announced his appointments to all of the business court divisions and the Fifteenth Court. These highly competent expert judges […]
Government Lawyers Redefine ‘Public Nuisance’ To Enrich Friends
What happened: Government agencies are increasingly partnering with private attorneys on a contingency fee basis to pursue public nuisance lawsuits against legal activities and products that we all use every day. How we got here: A perfect storm of activists’ inability to get their policies passed through the appropriate legislative process, government coffers in need […]
O.H. SKINNER: Here Is Why The Left Is Desperate To Keep These Cases Out Of The Supreme Court
Here’s what happened: Activists are increasingly attempting to use public nuisance lawsuits to target various products and industries—from plastics to cars to energy producers—at the expense of everyday consumers. Behind the curtain: Environmental activist groups have spent years influencing state and federal judges through events and curricula to favor their positions in climate nuisance lawsuits. […]
FBI probing law firm McClenny Moseley for alleged hurricane litigation fraud
Here’s what happened: The FBI is investigating Houston-based law firm MMA (formerly McClenny Moseley and Associates) following disciplinary actions related to the firm’s storm-chasing litigation practices, including improper client solicitation, filing lawsuits for non-clients and mishandling settlement checks. Dig deeper: MMA allegedly violated state laws by paying millions to marketing firms to generate thousands of […]
A Climate Case for the Supreme Court
Here’s what happened: The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to weigh in on the city and county of Honolulu’s climate nuisance lawsuit, one of dozens nationwide seeking to hold oil and gas companies responsible for damages related to climate change. ICYMI: As part of those considerations, SCOTUS has asked for the Biden administration’s input […]
Republican AGs ask Supreme Court to block climate change lawsuits brought by several states
Here’s what happened: 19 Republican attorneys general filed a complaint with the U.S. Supreme Court to stop several Democratic-led states from pursuing climate change-related litigation against major oil and gas companies in state courts. At issue are climate nuisance cases filed by California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Dig deeper: The attorneys general […]
