Ryan Patrick, CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, said that the organization is committed to opposing excessive litigation and lawsuit abuse that increase costs for Texans and deter job growth. The statement was made on X.
“Texans for Lawsuit Reform will fight back against trial lawyers who drive up costs to all Texans through massive lawsuits that can also drive businesses and jobs away from Texas,” said Patrick.
In Texas, efforts to reform the civil-justice system have focused on concerns that rising lawsuit volumes and large jury awards increase business costs, insurance premiums, and consumer prices. During the 2025 legislative session, a priority bill seeking stricter limits on evidence and damages in personal-injury lawsuits—aimed at curbing so-called “nuclear verdicts” over $10 million—failed to pass. Supporters argued the change was necessary to protect the state’s competitive business environment, while critics warned it would undercut injured parties’ access to full compensation, according to the Texas Tribune.
A 2022 estimate by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform places Texas’ total tort (lawsuit) costs at nearly $38 billion for that year, translating to about $4,594 per household in the state. These costs include litigation expenses, compensation paid, and administrative overhead and reflect rapidly growing burdens on firms and consumers in Texas.
A comparative study by the Institute for Legal Reform shows that while Texas households face a tort burden of about $4,594 per household (approximately 2.0% of GDP) in 2022, neighboring large states like California were at $5,429 per household (approximately 2.0% of GDP) and Florida at $5,768 per household (approximately 3.3% of GDP). Although Texas is below some peer states, its growth in tort cost burden is among the faster-rising and remains a central concern for business competitiveness.
Ryan Patrick is an American attorney who served as a judge of the 177th District Court of Texas (appointed in 2012) and then as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas from 2018-2021, overseeing one of the nation’s busiest federal law-enforcement offices. Following his public-service roles he entered private practice as a partner at Haynes Boone LLP in Houston, focusing on white-collar defense and investigations.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) is a Texas-based nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1994 by business and legal leaders with the mission of promoting a civil-justice system that is fair, efficient, and predictable. TLR argues excessive litigation imposes a “tort tax” on consumers and businesses. The organization engages in research, political advocacy, and public education and has played a major role in Texas tort-reform legislation since the early 2000s.
