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

Dishonor roll for lawsuits includes Tootsie Rolls, Hawaiian rolls, and rolls of the dice

Washington Examiner, January 5, 2022

If you’re offended that Tootsie Rolls contain sugar and fat or that a brand of bread rolls called King’s Hawaiian is made in bakeries outside of Hawaii or that the Mrs. Smith’s brand of pies doesn’t contain enough butter in their crusts, well, then, step right up to the courthouse.

That’s what various plaintiffs did in 2021 in three examples of what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform called the “Most Ridiculous Lawsuits” of the just-completed year. They are joined by the suit filed by two reckless golfers against a golf course because they crashed carts while playing. And the suit demanding $5 million from Folger’s because a woman said she couldn’t produce the suggested numbers of cups of coffee from one of the brand’s canisters.

Oh, and then there’s the awful crime committed by Pop-Tarts, which puts other fruit products in addition to strawberry in its strawberry-flavored pastries. Please, don’t tell comedian Jerry Seinfeld about this one: It’ll make his head explode.

The problem is, this nation’s litigiousness (along with the laws that do not adequately dissuade frivolous suits) creates situations that really aren’t funny. Oftentimes, even a suit that ends up failing can cause the defendant to run up so much in legal fees that it puts him or her out of business. Witness, for example, the 2007 lawsuit that forced a community basketball facility to close because its second floor wasn’t easily accessible by wheelchair, even though the facility made provisions for those with disabilities to access to its first floor as per existing regulations.

“At last count, the U.S. spends over $3,000 per household on its tort system, while small businesses are paying more than half — $182 million — of the commercial liability costs,” said Harold Kim, ILR’s president. “The only winners are the plaintiffs’ lawyers and litigation funders. The more frivolous lawsuits they file, the more they get paid.”

Nobody should want to dissuade legitimate lawsuits for real injuries caused by actual negligence. But a whole spate of state-level reforms could make those suits get priority while strongly discouraging the idiotic ones. It should be easier for lawyers to face sanctions for truly frivolous suits. And some categories of suits should be subject to “loser pay” provisions so that the legal fees of winning defendants are covered. And so on.

Hint: If you lose a half-million dollars at a casino, that’s your own fault. Don’t sue the casino on the weird off-chance that you’ll draw an easily confusable jury.

The courts of law aren’t supposed to be a crapshoot.

Follow us on Facebook

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

2 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

In case you missed it: Specialized business courts like the Delaware Court of Chancery can be an important addition to a state’s economic foundation. These courts quickly and expertly handle complex business litigation, freeing up other courts to handle other types of cases. Read and share: bit.ly/3y7zwnI ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Making Business Our Business

bit.ly

Much has been written about Elon Musk—eccentric billionaire, CEO of some of the most innovative companies in the world and… future owner of Twitter? While the nuances of this deal are daily fodder...
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

3 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

The federal judge who supervises multidistrict opioid litigation had ordered a certain percentage of future opioid settlements to be set aside for plaintiffs’ lawyers who have similar cases outside the MDL, diverting more settlement money away from the victims. Read & share: bit.ly/3NqcDQP ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Multidistrict Opioid Litigation Continues to Enrich Plantiffs' Lawyers

bit.ly

Multidistrict opioid litigation is once again being used to the advantage of plaintiffs’ lawyers. This very serious issue requires a victims-first approach, not a plaintiffs’-lawyer-payday-first a...
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

4 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

A month passed before Harris County courts brought in 18-year-old Corey Hodges, who violated his bond conditions 37 times. Crime Stoppers’ Andy Kahan blames the initial judge's lack of enforcement on his first bond violation back in 2015. Read and share: bit.ly/3A6vLjC ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

18-year-old charged with murder, aggravated assault violates bond conditions at least 37 times

bit.ly

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – 18-year-old Corey Hodge could be a poster guy for Breaking Bond. “This is clearly you are breaking your bond conditions,” said Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers. On April 17,...
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

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

Comment on Facebook


Follow us on Twitter

lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
1 Jul 1542991625462464513

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

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 1542991625462464513Retweet on Twitter 1542991625462464513Like on Twitter 1542991625462464513Twitter 1542991625462464513
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
1 Jul 1542901497490456578

#ICYMI: Certain business courts like the Delaware Court of Chancery can be an important addition to a state’s economic foundation. These courts quickly & expertly handle complex business litigation freeing up other courts to handle other cases. Read & RT:

Making Business Our Business

Much has been written about Elon Musk—eccentric billionaire, CEO of some of the most innovative companies in the world and… future owner of Twitte...

bit.ly

Reply on Twitter 1542901497490456578Retweet on Twitter 15429014974904565781Like on Twitter 1542901497490456578Twitter 1542901497490456578
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
30 Jun 1542629262443905024

Fighting lawsuit abuse keeps our courts fair and our economy strong. 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 1542629262443905024Retweet on Twitter 1542629262443905024Like on Twitter 1542629262443905024Twitter 1542629262443905024

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