In 1994, Texas was by many measures the single worst state in the union for civil justice. Companies and individuals were incessantly preyed upon by greedy personal injury trial lawyers who filed meritless lawsuits. Defendants found only fractionally at fault for injuries were held responsible for 100% of the damages. Plaintiffs could shop for friendly courtrooms across the state. Every case involving punitive damages was a “bet the company” case, since there was no limit on such awards no matter how insignificant the injury. Triple-damage consumer protection laws were routinely being used to intimidate defendants into settling, even when there was no true consumer issue at stake. Doctors, and indeed the entire medical profession, were deluged with lawsuits.

When a group of Texans founded a new civil justice reform group called Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), they called upon the principals of The Patriot Group to provide the strategic and tactical guidance for their effort. The results of this new effort were unprecedented. In the first legislative session, a host of new laws were passed that rectified the worst abuses of the system. In two succeeding sessions, more laws were also passed that further corrected civil justice system flaws. Moreover, a significant amount of legislation favorable to personal injury trial lawyers was stopped dead in its tracks. TLR’s political action committee (TLR PAC) became one of the most influential political organizations in the state. As a result, Texans now enjoy greater confidence in their civil court system, and these historic reforms have generated tremendous economic benefits as well. In some rankings Texas has literally gone from worst-to-first in the category of civil justice.

The Patriot Group continues to provide key strategic guidance to Texans for Lawsuit Reform in many areas including communications, political action and grassroots outreach.