Texas Senate passes bill seeking to bring transparency and accountability to lawyer health care advertising
By: David Yates
Every year, Texans at home watching TV are inundated with tens of thousands of lawyer advertisements, many of which “deceptively” warn viewers that the medication they’re taking could be dangerous.
On April 11, the Texas Senate passed SB 1189, which relates to deceptive advertising of legal services and seeks to bring transparency and accountability to such attorney-paid ads.
The bill, filed by Sen. Dawn Buckingham of Lakeway, requires advertisements to properly warn patients that it is dangerous to stop taking a prescribed medication before consulting with a physician.
The bill also has a provision for imposing civil penalties on individuals who market deceptive ads.
Many proponents of the bill, such as Texans for Lawsuit Reform, argue some lawyer ads can “unnecessarily” scare people to the point that they stop taking their essential medications.
“The Texas Senate sent a strong message today that our state will not tolerate lawyer advertising practices that unnecessarily alarm Texans and create threats to public health to generate clients,” said TLR General Counsel Lee Parsley.
“It’s unacceptable that Texans have suffered adverse health consequences or died because they were frightened into discontinuing use of a necessary medication by an advertisement for legal services.”
A 2016 survey conducted on behalf of Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse found that 82 percent of doctors believe that such ads can lead to patients not taking their medications as prescribed.
The survey also found that 66 percent of doctors say patients have questioned their recommended course of treatment, citing concerns about claims they saw in a lawsuit ad.
“This bill requires a few common-sense disclaimers, including, ‘Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting a physician,’” Parsley said. “We hope the Texas House will take quick action to ensure Texans are not harmed by harmful advertising practices.”
Texas television viewers were inundated by more than 190,000 advertisements for legal services in the state’s three largest media markets over a six-month period last year, according to a recent report by the American Tort Reform Association.
The study examined the prevalence of legal advertising in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, and found that legal services accounted for a staggering $23.4 million in ad buys during the period studied.
Comparing legal services ads to other common ad categories, the study found that viewers in Houston saw more than 19 lawsuit ads for every pizza ad, while San Antonio viewers saw more than 11 times as many legal ads than ads for hardware stores.
Buckingham, elected in 2016, is a Republican for District 24. In addition to being a Texas senator, Buckingham is an oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon.
This message is only visible to admins:
Problem displaying Facebook posts. Backup cache in use.
The Nevada Supreme Court has backed the firearms industry in wrongful death litigation – even when plaintiffs plausibly allege their products were illegal. The court made its ruling Dec. 2 in the case of Carrie Parsons, one of the victims of the 2017 mass shooting carried out by Stephen Paddock from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. Read and share: bit.ly/3oP1bF2
bit.ly
CARSON CITY, Nev. (Legal Newsline) – The Nevada Supreme Court has backed the firearms industry in wrongful death litigation – even when plaintiffs plausibly allege their products were illegal. The...Lawyers are greedy and stupid and wrong
A billboard towers over IH-35, trumpeting a $1.25 billion “verdict/judgment” that personal-injury lawyer Thomas J. Henry secured for an alleged victim of sexual assault. Since July 1, lawyers no longer have to disclose in advertisements how much a client received from a verdict or settlement. That allowed Henry to omit from the billboard that he didn’t actually put anything in his client’s pocket. Read and share: bit.ly/3rYgXzy
bit.ly
The billboard towers over Interstate 35 just north of downtown San Antonio, trumpeting a $1.25 billion “verdict/judgment” that personal-injury lawyer Thomas J. Henry secured for an alleged victim ...The American Tort Reform Foundation has released its annual Judicial Hellholes report, placing the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas on its watch list. The report also listed the Texas Supreme Court as a point of light. Read and share: bit.ly/3ERu0Xb
Judicial Hellholes report puts Dallas Court of Appeals on watch list - Texans for Lawsuit Reform
bit.ly
DALLAS – The American Tort Reform Foundation released its annual Judicial Hellholes report today, placing the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas on its watch list. The report also listed the Texas Sup...
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
Texans for Lawsuit Reform has thousands of supporters from across Texas who are committed to a fair and balanced civil justice system.
bit.ly
#ICYMI: Frivolous lawsuits clog the nation’s courts and prevent them from hearing more serious legal issues. While these lawsuits may sound like a joke, they often cost businesses and plaintiffs millions. Read & RT: #tortreform
Dishonor roll for lawsuits includes Tootsie Rolls, Hawaiian rolls, and rolls of the dice
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 outs...
bit.ly
TLR is working to make the Texas legal system fair, efficient, and accessible for all. Learn more: #tortreform
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
