AUSTIN—Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) President Richard J. Trabulsi Jr. today released the following statement regarding the filing of Senate Bill 10 by Sen. Kelly Hancock and House Bill 1774 by Rep. Greg Bonnen:

AUSTIN—Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) today announced the addition of former Texas State Rep. Kenneth Sheets and former Texas Supreme Court General Counsel Lisa Bowlin Hobbs to its outside legal team. Sheets will provide legal advice on a variety of issues impacting Texas’ civil justice system. Hobbs will also provide legal advice, as well as engage in legislative advocacy. They join TLR’s legal team of Senior General Counsel Hugh Rice Kelly, General Counsel Lee Parsley and longtime TLR Outside Counsel and former Texas Third Court of Appeals Justice Alan Waldrop.

AUSTIN—Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) President Richard J. Trabulsi Jr. today released the following statement regarding Gov. Greg Abbott’s 2017 State of the State speech:
 

(Houston, TX)  Texans for Lawsuit Reform again honors the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, for his strong stand against lawsuit abuse.  Lincoln’s admonition to “never stir up litigation…” continues to resonate today as we review recent reports that personal injury trial lawyers spent $892 million last year on advertising, most of which is, in fact, designed to “stir up litigation.”

“We are not surprised that Hidalgo County is included on ATRA’s “Judicial Hellholes” list.  Hailstorm lawsuit abuse has become a critical problem for homeowners throughout Texas, but it began in Hidalgo County and homeowners there have been hit particularly hard,” said TLR spokesperson Sherry Sylvester. “Storm chasing trial lawyers are making millions in attorney fees on dubious hailstorm property claims while homeowners are losing access to homeowners insurance or seeing their premiums and deductibles skyrocket.  This is the most flagrant lawsuit abuse problem we are seeing in Texas today.”

(HOUSTON, TX) Texans for Lawsuit Reform issued the following statement today commending Lt. Governor Dan Patrick for his interim charge to the Business and Commerce Committee calling for the monitoring of the increasing number of hailstorm lawsuits following severe weather events and their impact on access to affordable homeowners’ insurance.  TLR President Richard J. Trabulsi, Jr., said:

(Houston, TX)  Texans for Lawsuit Reform reminded Texans today that virtually all the opposition behind the hailstorm lawsuit reform bill (SB 1628 by Senator Larry Taylor and Representative John Smithee) is being orchestrated by Steve Mostyn, a storm-chasing trial lawyer who will continue to make millions of dollars in fees if he can defeat the bill.  

(Houston, TX) Texans for Lawsuit Reform President Richard J. Trabulsi, Jr., issued the  following statement today following the passage of HB 1492 in the Texas House:

(Houston, TX)  Texans for Lawsuit Reform today applauded Governor Greg Abbott’s appointment of Judge Debra Ibarra Mayfield to the 165th District Court in Harris County. 

(Houston, TX)  Texans for Lawsuit Reform issued the following statement today regarding CSSB 1628 by Senator Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, which is critical to stopping the lawsuit abuse being perpetrated by storm-chasing trial lawyers. 
 

(Austin, TX)  Texans for Lawsuit Reform issued the following statement today regarding the trial lawyer group, Texas Watch.
“Texas Watch is not a public interest consumer watchdog, they are a trial lawyer front group that is fighting lawsuit reforms that will help protect homeowners’ access to affordable insurance policies in Texas,” said TLR spokesperson, Sherry Sylvester.

(Houston, 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 lawsuit abuse and his expressed belief that meritless lawsuits 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform applauded Gov. Rick Perry’s appointment of Justice Jeff Brown to the Supreme Court of Texas.

(San Antonio, TX) Texans for Lawsuit Reform honored legendary business and civic leader Red McCombs in San Antonio today, calling the longtime TLR supporter a “pioneer in the battle for lawsuit reform.”

(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.”