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
  • Get Involved
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Invite a TLR Speaker
  • Donate
  • Stay Informed
In the News

Dallas turns to AG over records sought in litigation seeking to sue Netflix, other streamers

Southeast Texas Record, November 8, 2021

AUSTIN – The same three law firms are representing a growing list of Texas cities seeking to sue Netflix, Hulu, Disney and other streams over franchise fees – and whether the conversations leading up to the hiring of those same firms is a matter of public record may be a matter decided by the state’s chief lawyer.

Since the start of 2021, more than a half dozen Texas cities have sought approval from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to press forward with their franchise fee suits against the streaming video service providers (VSPs).

As more and more Americans cut the cable cord, more and more cities are arguing that streaming VSPs are also required to pay 5 percent of their gross revenues under the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act.

The Texas cities seeking to sue Netflix and the other streamers include Dallas, Plano, Waco, Abilene, Carrollton, Frisco and Garland – all of which are represented by the law firms of Ashcroft Sutton Reyes, McKool Smith, and Korein Tillery.

Last month, The Record filed an open records request with Dallas, seeking all communications, including email and phone transcripts, between the city and the law firms over the past two years.

Records show that on Nov. 1 Dallas reached out the open records division of the OAG, believing that “some or all” of the requested information is exempt under Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, which deals with public information.

The city is asking the OAG to determine whether the information is exempt from disclosure.

Ashcroft Sutton Reyes, one of the three firms representing Dallas and the other cities, did not return a request for comment.

Until two years ago, Texas trial lawyers routinely solicited local governments for litigious purposes and then sent contingency fee contracts to the Comptroller’s Office for approval.

That changed on Sept. 1, 2019 – the date House Bill 2826 went into effect, a law designed to bring transparency to how local governments go about hiring law firms and place contract approval in the hands of the attorney general.

HB 2826 requires local governmental entities to provide notice and negotiate with well-qualified attorneys, instead of just hiring those who solicit them.

The aim of HB 2826 was to end attorney solicitation and backroom deals between trial lawyers and local governments, while empowering the OAG to stop litigation waves before they can start so the state can file one master lawsuit.

Follow us on Facebook

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

21 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

Link thumbnail

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

bit.ly

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...
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

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

Comment on Facebook

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

Link thumbnail

Dallas judge under scrutiny for bail rulings recuses herself from cases

bit.ly

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 ...
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

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

Comment on Facebook

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

Link thumbnail

Nuclear Verdicts Create Litigation "Vortex" for Trucking Industry

bit.ly

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...
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

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

Comment on Facebook


Follow us on Twitter

lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
15h 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.

bit.ly

Reply on Twitter 1527408930703523840Retweet on Twitter 1527408930703523840Like on Twitter 15274089307035238401Twitter 1527408930703523840
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
21h 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...

bit.ly

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.

bit.ly

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
  • 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 © 2022 · Texans for Lawsuit Reform. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy