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

Texas off ATRA’s ‘Judicial Hellholes’ list, hail lawsuit reform cited as ‘Point of Light’

Southeast Texas Record, December 5, 2017

By: David Yates

AUSTIN – For the past two years, two of Texas’ more litigious venues caught the attention of the American Tort Reform Association — Hidalgo County, arguably the birthplace of mass hailstorm litigation, and the Eastern District of Texas, a hot spot for patent infringement cases.

On Dec. 5, ATRA released its latest “Judicial Hellholes Report,” – a ranking of states and venues that the group sees as the nation’s most unfair handlers of civil litigation.

Neither Hidalgo County, which has made the list twice in as many years, or the Eastern District earned a spot on ATRA’s list this year.

In fact, the 2017 report lists a tort reform measure aimed at ending storm lawsuit abuse as a Point of Light.

According to Texans for Lawsuit Reform, preliminary analysis of lawsuit filings shows an 84 percent reduction in weather-related lawsuits since House Bill 1774 took effect in September.

“The Legislature put Texas consumers first by passing House Bill 1774 to shut down lawsuit abuse that was making property insurance more expensive and less accessible for Texans,” said Lucy Nashed, TLR’s communications director.

“For over two decades, Texas has fought back against personal injury trial lawyers and their job-killing agenda, passing common-sense reforms … this commitment has made Texas a national example for smart reforms.”

While Texas can now be seen as a beacon for tort reform, the state is no stranger to ATRA’s list, with state courts and communities appearing 17 times in 16 years in the annual report.

“That’s why we’ll remain vigilant in defending existing reforms,” said Roger Borgelt, chairman of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse of Central Texas.

“Hailstorm lawsuit reform was a focal point for our education and advocacy this year. It’s heartening to see this landmark legislation – cracking down on fraudulent storm litigation – included among the ‘points of light’ in this year’s Judicial Hellholes report.”

Two years ago, the report named the Eastern District of Texas among the nation’s worst judicial hellholes.

ATRA says the federal district drew patent plaintiffs from across the nation because of a “rocket docket” of expedited trials, general unwillingness to dismiss cases, a high plaintiff-win rate and larger-than-average awards for damages.

“In May 2017, however, the Supreme Court unanimously ended the ED Texas’s reign as the nation’s busiest patent infringement court,” the report states.

“The high court’s ruling in TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC generally requires patent-holding plaintiffs to bring lawsuits only where an allegedly infringing defendant is incorporated, or where there has been an act of infringement and the defendant has a regular and established place of business.

“Already the ruling is having an impact. Patent cases formerly concentrated in the ED Texas are shifting to Delaware, where many businesses are incorporated, and other states that have real connections to claims.”

In 2016, 1,647 patent infringement cases were filed in the Eastern District while Delaware’s federal court hosted just 455.

“In the weeks immediately following TC Heartland, these two courts experienced a ‘complete flip’ in the volume of cases,” the report states. “Attorneys expect cases to be treated more evenhandedly in Delaware, where federal judges are described as “no-nonsense.”

ATRA is a nonprofit organization that works to educate the public about the civil justice system and tort law. It has compiled the Judicial Hellholes report since 2002.

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 ports are thriving today, but in the early 2000s, abusive personal injury lawsuits threatened to shut them down. As the Port of Houston begins a long-awaited expansion, read more about the common-sense lawsuit reform in 2007 that saved our state’s shipping industry in this week’s TLR blog, For the Record: bit.ly/3aeTy6n ... See MoreSee Less

Learn More

Play
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 1
  • Shares: 2
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

2 days ago

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

Wishing everyone a very happy Fourth of July! ... See MoreSee Less

Wishing everyone a very happy Fourth of July!
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 5
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

Happy Independence Day America Today we celebrate our Republic 🇺🇸

Texans for Lawsuit Reform

5 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


Follow us on Twitter

lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
7h 1544441042120089600

Sign up for the TLR Weekly News Roundup to receive a daily digest of headlines & news stories about #lawsuitreform from Texas & around the country!

Sign up for the TLR Weekly News Roundup!

Please use the form below to receive a daily digest of TLR Clips - headlines and news stories about lawsuit reform from Texas and around the country.

bit.ly

Reply on Twitter 1544441042120089600Retweet on Twitter 1544441042120089600Like on Twitter 15444410421200896001Twitter 1544441042120089600
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
9h 1544407069297614851

Texas ports are thriving, but in the early 2000s, abusive lawsuits threatened to shut them down. Read more about the common-sense reform that saved our state’s shipping industry in this week’s TLR blog, For the Record: https://bit.ly/3aeTy6n

Twitter feed video.
Image for the Tweet beginning: Texas ports are thriving, but
Reply on Twitter 1544407069297614851Retweet on Twitter 15444070692976148512Like on Twitter 1544407069297614851Twitter 1544407069297614851
lawsuitreform avatarTLR@lawsuitreform·
4 Jul 1543988532720566273

Wishing everyone a very happy #4thOfJuly!

Twitter feed video.
Image for the Tweet beginning: Wishing everyone a very happy
Reply on Twitter 1543988532720566273Retweet on Twitter 1543988532720566273Like on Twitter 15439885327205662732Twitter 1543988532720566273

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