Patrick McKenzie, an advisor at the financial-infrastructure company Stripe, said that certain professional associations aim to limit competition by mandating services to be bundled with right-to-sue provisions. This statement was made on the social media platform X, highlighting ongoing discussions about tort reform in Texas.
“Some professionals, and many professional associations, who are legally obligated to bundle the advice with the right-to-sue would strongly prefer that no one compete with them on price or quality without being legally forced to also sell right-to-sue,” said McKenzie. “I understand that desire.”
In 2024–2025, Texas legislators revisited the topic of tort reform through Senate Bill 30. The bill proposed limits on noneconomic damages and introduced new standards for proving medical costs. According to The Texas Tribune, this legislation garnered support from business groups seeking to curb “nuclear verdicts.” However, it faced opposition from trial lawyers and consumer advocates who argued that it would restrict access to courts. Ultimately, the measure did not pass before the legislative session adjourned in June 2025.
Civil litigation activity continues to grow across Texas courts. The Texas Office of Court Administration’s Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Statistical Report indicates that new civil case filings have reached record highs at all court levels, with municipal-court filings increasing by 17 percent year over year. The report attributes this growth partly to population increases and post-pandemic backlogs, which have raised costs for both professionals and consumers.
Texas’ liability environment remains relatively restrained compared to national trends. A review by RHL Law of National Practitioner Data Bank records from 2019–2024 shows that while the U.S. average medical-malpractice payment was $386,954, Texas averaged $223,577—one of the lowest among states. Analysts suggest this reflects statutory damage caps and tort-reform legacy effects that moderate insurance premiums and litigation exposure.
McKenzie is also known online as “patio11” and is recognized as a software entrepreneur and advisor at Stripe. His professional biography on Kalzumeus.com notes his previous role as a full-time employee at Stripe and his founding of Appointment Reminder, focusing on small-business automation and consumer-protection topics. He remains an active writer on technology and policy intersections.
Stripe was founded in 2010 by Patrick Collison and John Collison. According to its 2024 update on its newsroom site, Stripe’s mission is to increase the GDP of the internet by processing $1.4 trillion in payments for millions of businesses worldwide that year. The company operates under a dual U.S.–Ireland headquarters structure and offers a broad suite of commerce and payment tools.
