Press Releases

(Houston, TX) Texans for Lawsuit Reform applauded Gov. Rick Perry’s appointment of Justice Nathan Hecht as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas today. Hugh Rice Kelly, TLR General Counsel said:
“Governor Perry’s appointment of Nathan Hecht to the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas means that our Court will be led by one of the nation’s most outstanding appellate judges.  Justice Hecht has been recognized both in Texas and nationally.”

(Houston, TX) Texans for Lawsuit Reform issued the following statement on the announcement of retirement by Texas Supreme Court Justice Wallace Jefferson. TLR President Richard J. Trabulsi, Jr., said:
“Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson is a nationally respected jurist whose incisive legal thinking and commitment to conservative principles of law have helped make the Texas Supreme Court one of the most respected appellate courts in the nation.”

There are a number of problems with HB 912.  These are just a few:
It is expansive. It imposes criminal and civil liability for the “capturing” (a term undefined in the bill) of “sound waves, thermal, infrared, ultraviolet, visible light, or other electromagnetic waves, odor, or other conditions existing on or about real property or an individual located on that property.”  It covers not only “an unmanned vehicle” (it does not say “unmanned flying vehicle”), but also “aircraft” (it does not say “unmanned aircraft”). 

Polling over the last two decades has consistently shown that a majority of Texans in both political parties support the landmark lawsuit reforms that have brought balance to Texas courts and improved public trust in our civil justice system.  A new statewide poll of Republican primary voters conducted by Baselice and Associates, Inc. for TLR last week found that, despite persistent attempts by liberal personal injury trial lawyers to infiltrate Republican and conservative groups, support for tort reform remains high among likely Republican voters.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform Chairman and CEO, Richard W. Weekley issued the following statement on the passing of Harold Simmons on Sunday:
“We are saddened at the loss of our longtime friend and ally Harold Simmons. Harold joined the battle for lawsuit reform in Texas almost twenty years ago and has been steadfast and courageous in his commitment to making Texas a better and more prosperous state by assuring that our courts are fair and honest….

TLR issued the following statement today following the announcement by Governor Rick Perry that he will not seek re-election.  TLR President, Richard J. Trabulsi, Jr., said:
“Governor Rick Perry has been the most effective tort reformer in our nation’s history.”

TLR just completed its tenth legislative session of advocacy for lawsuit reform. In each and every session, TLR has helped pass meaningful civil justice reforms; we have also worked with legislators in both parties to draft provisions in bills that would either benefit, or not harm, the fairness and balance of the Texas civil justice system.

Video: Leo Linbeck, Jr. on why TLR was formed.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform issued the following statement today on the passing of TLR’s Senior Chairman, Leo Linbeck, Jr.

(Houston, TX)  Texans for Lawsuit Reform Chairman and CEO, Richard W. Weekley issued the following statement on the passing of Bob Perry:
“We are shocked and saddened at the loss of our dear and good friend Bob Perry.  Bob was truly a Texas giant whose legendary compassion, vision and commitment to principle has changed the face of Texas and improved the lives of thousands of people.

(Austin, TX)  On this President’s Day, Texans for Lawsuit Reform again honors the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, for his strong stand against frivolous lawsuits and his expressed belief that such suits waste time and money and are rooted in greed.  Always counted among our greatest and most visionary presidents, Lincoln saw more than a hundred-fifty years ago that lawsuit abuse was detrimental, not only to the legal profession, but to society as a whole.