Tort Reform

Tort Reform

Hot Coffee, an eye-opening and revealing documentary, premieres on HBO, Monday, June 27 at 9 PM (E/P)/8 PM (C)

You've probably heard the story. But do you know the facts? Stella Liebeck is an 84-year old woman who was awarded $2.9 million dollars after suing McDonald's for burn injuries she received from excessively hot coffee. She's since been the butt of endless jokes and ridicule and the case is widely cited as an example of lawsuit abuse. But most Americans have never heard the full story.

Hot Coffee reveals what really happened to Stella Liebeck, the Albuquerque woman who spilled coffee on herself and sued McDonald’s, while exploring how and why the case garnered so much media attention, who funded the effort and to what end. After seeing this film, you will decide who really profited from spilling hot coffee.

Tort Reform

The controversial Omnibus Tort Bill HB 274, known as the "loser pays" bill passed in the Texas House on Saturday. The bill went to vote on Saturday after Texas Governor Rick Perry added it to his list of "emergency items".

HOUSTON, Texas (LAL) - The bill, well-intended as it may be to limit unreasonable lawsuits brought against Texas businesses, will make it harder for individual citizens to bring lawsuits against corporations for serious injuries or other wrongdoing. Under the legislation, the losing party in a lawsuit will be required to pay court costs and the legal expenses of the prevailing party. The idea is that the risk of a costly loss will prevent unnecessary or frivolous lawsuits. And it may, but there is a dark other side of the story that sharply limits options of ordinary citizens to seek redress from others who have legitimately harmed them.

Tort Reform

Texas Governor Rick Perry is Transparently Kowtowing to Special Interests Under the House Rules, an emergency item is one that is “of such pressing and imperative import as to demand immediate action.”  After 20+ years of pro-defendant legal changes, Rick Perry believes that making it even more difficult for Texans with valid claims to access the legal system rises to the level of a statewide emergency.

“This is a sad state of affairs.  Rick Perry is so transparently kowtowing to the special interest lobbyists who want even more immunity protections for polluters, insurance companies, and other big corporate wrongdoers,” said Alex Winslow, executive director of the citizen advocacy group Texas Watch.  “Texas has plenty of emergencies to deal with.  Immunizing needless death, injury, or financial devastation caused by corporate wrongdoers is not one of them.”