AUSTIN, Texas, April 28, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- A new report by nationally recognized economist Ray Perryman shows lawsuit reforms enacted in Texas beginning in 1995 have resulted in $112.5 billion in annual spending in Texas, 499,000 new, permanent jobs and a $2.6 billion increase in state tax revenue, giving Texas a resounding competitive advantage in these challenging economic times.
Additional benefits include a 21.3% reduction in medical liability insurance costs and 430,000 Texans with health insurance who would otherwise be uninsured.
"Lawsuit reform has led to improvements in the Texas business climate that have generated hundreds of thousands of jobs," said Perryman. "Approximately 8.5 percent of Texas economic growth over the past decade is the result of lawsuit reform."
"Lawsuit reform has been good for Texas, bringing fairness and balance to our courts and boosting our economy, creating jobs, spurring business expansion and attracting thousands of new doctors to our state," said TLR Chairman Richard Weekley.
Perryman found the economic impact of lawsuit reform is felt throughout the state from Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown which showed a $39.1 billion annual spending impact and a gain of 152,905 jobs to rural Texas, where annual spending increased $4.01 billion and 19,950 new permanent jobs were created.
"A Texas Turnaround: The Impact of Lawsuit Reform on Business Activity in the Lone Star State" was commissioned by the Texans for Lawsuit Reform Foundation, the research arm of Texans for Lawsuit Reform. It is available for download at www.tlrfoundation.com.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform is the state's largest civil justice reform organization. TLR is a bipartisan, volunteer-led coalition with more than 16,000 supporters residing in 818 Texas communities and representing 1,266 different businesses, professions and trades. For more information about TLR visit www.tortreform.com.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform Foundation logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4954
Questions for Dr. Perryman should be directed to Dr. Eugene Baker, 254-751-9595.