Another View of Texas Legal Reforms

Re “Texans Still at Odds Over Bush’s Legal Reforms,” Sept. 22: After working 10 years to enact 35 civil justice reform measures, it was a great disappointment to see our efforts wrongly characterized as changes to residential liability statutes that were never part of any tort reform effort. Residential construction statutes are also no measure of Gov. George Bush’s reform record, as they were enacted either before or after Bush was governor.

Though quoted plaintiff lawyers claim consumers have been denied the right to sue in Texas, no tort reform bill took away that right. Rather, reform legislation removed the license to abuse the civil justice system.

Consumers are hurt, for example, when class-action lawyers negotiate discount coupons for class members and millions of dollars in legal fees for themselves. Under recently enacted legislation, class-action lawyers in Texas will be paid the same percentage of cash and coupons as the class receives.

Other legislation made it possible for employers to truthfully relate experiences about past employees, thus ending the fear of lawsuits that kept embezzlers and rapists circulating in the employment pool without fear of truthful references. Retired physicians who volunteer in clinics for the poor and other good Samaritans were also protected from unwarranted litigation. We’re proud of what we have accomplished for Texas consumers.

Ken Hoagland

Communication Dir., Texans

for Lawsuit Reform, Houston