HOUSTON, Oct. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an op-ed published in Saturday's Houston Chronicle, TLR Chairman and CEO Richard Weekley called on Congress to adopt the Texas model of tort reform, and warned that trial lawyers will not back down from relentless attempts to stop lawsuit reform.
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In the op-ed Weekley explained that: "Tort reform works in Texas. Texans have a proven model that brought doctors back to Texas, including much-needed emergency-room physicians, obstetricians, and orthopedic surgeons."
Before the reforms, 24 Texas counties had no emergency-room physician. Another 58 counties have added at least one more emergency-room physician to expand access to care. Twelve counties had no licensed obstetrician. Now they do.
Tort reform goes beyond health care benefits, Weekley explained, it has strengthened the Texas economy. Last year Texas created more jobs than the other 49 states combined.
Weekley noted that the positive impact of lawsuit reform in Texas has not silenced the plaintiff lawyers. Weekley explained that personal injury trial lawyers are fighting harder than ever by:
-- Spending more in campaign contributions in Texas than any other
business or industry - nearly $9 million last year.
-- Increasing spending on medical liability advertising by 1,400
percent over the last four years, from $3.8 million to $62 million.
-- Enacting the most aggressive attack on lawsuit reform in this
year's Texas Legislative Session in over a decade, by pushing more
than 900 bills that would have created new opportunities to sue and
repealed successful reforms.
In the op-ed Weekley called on Congress to not back down because of fear of taking on the trial lawyers.
"Congress should not be intimidated. Lawsuit reform must be a key component to any effort to improve the quality and access of health care in America," Weekley said. To read the entire op-ed visit www.tortreform.com.
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The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.
