February 24, 2017      4:55 PM

Lawyers and industry face off in tort reform fight of the session

The trials argue this is not even a “hailstorm” bill but instead a full rewrite of the insurance code; TLR says that is not true – Kimberly Reeves breaks down the arguments

Texans for Lawsuit Reform says lawyer-driven lawsuit abuse by the “hail cartel” is the reason to take another high-profile run at tort reform of hailstorm claims this session.

If only it was that simple.

Senate Bill 10, filed by Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, is shaping up into one of those classic standoffs between tort reformers and trial lawyers. Both groups carry heavy influence among lawmakers during this, and any other, session.

But unlike last session, TLR takes clear ownership as a key stakeholder in SB 10. Sen. Larry Taylor’s bill last session, Senate Bill 1628, amended two chapters of the insurance code. This session’s SB 10 takes direct aim at the deceptive trade practices act in the Business & Commerce code. As Ware Wendell of Texas Watch points out, both approaches accomplish the same goals.

By Kimberly Reeves

Copyright February 24, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved