Texas and Tort Lawsuits - Pacific Research Institute

Texas and Tort Lawsuits

The American Justice Partnership and Pacific Research Institute’s U.S. Tort Liability Index for 2006 acknowledges the positive economic results of lawsuit reform in Texas. Texas became known as the world’s courtroom, when the state’s judicial system was inflicted with frivolous lawsuits and exorbitant jury awards, during the 1980’s.

But the state has come a long way, since then, as the State officials and legislators work hard to bring balance and fairness to the Texas judicial system. During the last 20 years, there have been legislative action that have led to a number of reforms in key areas such as asbestos and silica litigation, class-action cases, “forum shopping,” joint and several liability, medical malpractice, punitive damages etc.

According to George Christian, general counsel of the Texas Civil Justice League says: “Texas is on the right track, but weaknesses remain in the state’s civil justice system. The report’s findings should encourage lawmakers to keep up the good work.” Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) is one such organization that strives for providing a fair, balanced and predictable framework in which civil disputes can be resolved efficiently and justly.

Mr. Dick Weekley is the Chairman and CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, an organization dedicated in service to restore litigation to its traditional and appropriate role in our society.

Mr. Weekley was quoted as saying: “The passage of Proposition 12 was an important victory for every Texan who wants to restore fairness, honesty and public trust to our civil justice system. Medical liability reforms increased the number of liability insurance companies in the state from 4 to 27, dramatically reducing insurance costs so that physicians – especially those in high-risk and hard to recruit specialties – can practice again all across Texas, even in those areas along the Texas border formally known as ‘lawsuit war zones.’”

Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.

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