As Texas families get ready for Christmas, the focus naturally turns to time together, traditions, and the gifts we give one another. For all of us at TLR, it is also a moment to reflect on a simple hope for the year ahead: a more affordable future for Texas families.
The holidays have a way of sharpening perspective. When budgets are tight, every dollar matters, and families feel it most at the end of the year. That is why the issue of lawsuit abuse is not abstract or political. It shows up in higher prices, higher insurance premiums, and less breathing room for households trying to do right by their families.
This year’s headlines have made one thing clear. Excessive litigation continues to place real financial pressure on American families, quietly draining household budgets long after the holidays are over. At the same time, states that have chosen smart, disciplined tort reform are showing that fairness works. Lower premiums, more predictability, and stronger local economies are not accidents. They are the result of leaders focused on restoring balance and stability.
That contrast matters, especially at Christmas. This year, the average American family is expected to spend $890 on Christmas gifts, one of the highest totals in more than two decades. Families plan for that expense. They budget for it. What they cannot plan for is the $1,666 per year lawsuit abuse now costs families through higher prices and higher premiums. The trial lawyer tax is not seasonal. It hits year in and year out.
The good news is that this burden is not inevitable. States that have acted to strengthen their civil justice systems are seeing real relief for consumers. Texas has led the nation before, helping protect families, jobs, and affordability through a fair and predictable legal system. As we look ahead to the new year, that leadership remains essential.
As families gather, celebrate, and reflect this Christmas, Texans for Lawsuit Reform remains focused on one simple goal: making sure affordability is protected for the people who work hard for every dollar.
Thank you for standing with us in that mission. From all of us at TLR, we wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
That is what the average American family is expected to spend on Christmas gifts this year, the second-highest total in the history of the survey. But even one of the most expensive Christmas seasons on record does not come close to what lawsuit abuse costs families every year.
Excessive litigation now costs American households $1,666 annually and drains 4.8 million jobs from the economy. Higher prices, rising insurance premiums, and shrinking affordability are not holiday surprises. They are the predictable consequences of a legal system prone to abuse.
