“Hot Coffee” Reveals the Harms of Tort Reform

Beginning in the 1980s, big business interests launched media campaigns aimed at convincing the public that the civil justice system was broken. Tales of runaway juries, greedy plaintiffs, overzealous lawyers, and frivolous lawsuits quickly captured the public's attention.

Attempts to reveal the truth that the civil justice system is not broken have been overpowered by distorted rhetoric sent out by big business interests. Some jurors are still convinced that awarding a plaintiff monetary damages will harm their own pocketbooks. Meanwhile, voters are constantly pounded with the message that the court system needs major reforms.

Texas has been deeply affected by the major tort reform undertaken in the state. Some politicians have even been heard bragging on national television that Texas enacted some of the most harsh tort reform in the country. Each day, Texas citizens are injured by the negligence of another, whether it is in a car accident, on the job, or under the care of a doctor. Yet some of these victims are left with little to no compensation for their damages, because their cases have been severely limited by tort reform.

"Hot Coffee" is a documentary that explores how the civil justice system really works and why many victims of personal injury are denied access to the courts. The documentary hopes to change the beliefs instilled in people by big business interests.

Each day, I receive at least one call from a person who has been the unwitting victim of a catastrophic personal injury. Many times, I have to tell some of these victims that I cannot take on their cases because tort reform has tied my hands and made it nearly impossible to get them the compensation they deserve.

Many dedicated trial lawyers are still fighting the good fight, despite the efforts of the rich and powerful to silence us. However, it is the consumer, the patient, and the disabled who have been harmed by so-called tort "reform," when in fact no reform was needed.

To learn more about tort reform and the adverse effects it has had on Texas citizens, read my article on tort reform at vanweylaw.com. Despite what some would have you believe, you can make a difference. Contact your state representative and senators to tell them that you do not support tort reform.