While you have been clutching your guns your rights to the 7th amendment of the Constitution has been taken away.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform filed their first Ethics Commission report back in 2000. I remember their lobbyists at the Texas Capitol from my years as a consumer advocate. They claim to advocate on behalf of Texans but the money they raise paint a very different picture.
Mandatory Binding Arbitration
The 7th Amendment of the Constitution states “In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved…..” In short, we have (had) a right to a civil trial for consumer issues such as a faulty foundation in your new home, or cell phone contracts, or buying a new or used car. Giving up your Constitutional rights isn’t an option in Texas. It’s called “Mandatory” for a reason. You have no choice and if you think it is “faster, cheaper, better” you are just ignorant, as most consumers are.
Protecting the bad doctors
TLR also advocated for changing the Texas Constitution to allow for limits on medical malpractice. At the time they said it would lower our health insurance bills and protect doctors from malpractice suits. So take a look at your healthcare bills and tell me how that worked out fer ya. (Hint. It didn’t) As expected nothing has changed. Texas ranks #1 in the uninsured, #45 in health care access, and #38 in overall health care. Luckily most Texans will never need the help of a Texas trial lawyer when it comes to medical malpractice, but when you do….god help you.
TLR Donors
So who has wiped out your safety nets? Since 2000 TLR has raised over $109 Million. $153,000 or .13% (not 13% .13%) was raised from the everyday, common, ignorant, citizen who donated $100 or less thinking they were helping. $90 Million or 83% came from donors who gave from $20,000 to $5,000,000. $48.5 Million or 44% came from just 18 individuals. It gives you an idea of who TLR really represents. In 2020 there was a significant increase in donations corresponding to the 2020 elections.
Here are the top donors:
| Name | Amount | |
| Jan Duncan | $7,300,000 | Retired |
| Richard Weekley | $6,300,000 | Homebuilder |
| Ross Perot | $4,700,000 | Developer |
| Robert McNair | $4,500,000 | Texans Owner |
| Bob Perry | $3,100,000 | Homebuilder |
| Jeffery Hildebrand | $2,800,000 | Energy |
| Harlan Crow | $2,500,000 | Investor |
| Harold Simmons | $2,400,000 | Financial Planning |
| Joe Walter | $2,300,000 | Oil & Gas |
| David Weekley | $2,100,000 | Homebuilder |
| Anthony Annunziato | $1,600,000 | Commodity Trading |
| W Bosarge | $1,500,000 | Consulting |
| Boone Pickens | $1,300,000 | Investments |
| Kenney Troutt | $1,200,000 | Investments |
| Alan Hassenflu | $1,700,000 | Real Estate |
| Jay Adair | $1,100,000 | Auto Parts |
| Javiad Anwar | $1,000,000 | Energy |
| Russell Gordy | $1,000,000 | Oil & Gas |
| $48,400,000 |
And if you are interested in graphs:
So you better go clutch that gun a bit tighter because that is all you have at this point.
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[…] looking at the donations to Texans for Lawsuit Reform I stumbled on a PAC called Judicial Fairness, which is far from fair. Judicial Fairness PAC was […]