AUSTIN, TEXAS–The following statement regarding the inclusion of Texas on the “Watch List” in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2025-2026 Judicial Hellholes® report should be attributed to Robert Wood, spokesperson for Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse (TALA):
“Texas’ inclusion in the Judicial Hellholes® Watch List is anything but welcome news. For decades, we’ve advocated for smart lawsuit reform that made our state a beacon for business investment and job creation, but now that record is under attack.
“The American Tort Reform Foundation points to the increasing amount of state litigation ‘fueled by shaky science instead of sound legal principles’ and the growth of cases leading to nuclear verdicts as a significant cause for concern.
“Texas is home to some of the nation’s largest‘nuclear verdicts’.. Court awards topping $10 million are far too common in Texas. In 2023 alone, six of the top ten verdicts in the country were handed down in Texas, totaling over $200 million.
“As the name suggests, these outsized verdicts are nuclear-level in destruction, making consumer goods and services less affordable and threatening the Texas business climate. Texans pay upwards of $1,725 more for goods and services every year as the cost of lawsuits and these massive court awards are passed on to consumers. “We hope our state leaders will move swiftly to address the serious concerns raised in the Judicial Hellholes® report and to put an end to the abusive lawsuits that will wreck the state’s reputation as a jobs-friendly state. Texas’ economic strength and future prosperity hinge on ensuring our courts are used for justice, not greed.”
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Visit the American Tort Reform Foundation’s “Judicial Hellholes®” website here to read the full report. Click here to explore the report’s Watch List, including the reasons behind Texas’s inclusion.
Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse and Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse are the state’s oldest grassroots organizations dedicated to lawsuit reform education and advocacy. Learn more about our work at tala.com.
