Eye on Texas Blog

The Court’s Defenders: Polluters, Big Insurance, Corporate Wrongdoers

Court Watch—January 30th, 2012

On the heels of a 10-year review by Court Watch that found the Texas Supreme Court routinely sides with big government and big corporate interests over everyday Texans, the very special interests that benefit from the Court’s pro-defendant penchant rose to the court’s defense. None of the attacks, however, were able to discredit Court Watch’s findings or the report’s conclusions. Instead, critics are resorting to condescension and ad hominem attacks.

The report, “Thumbs on the Scale: A Retrospective of the Texas Supreme Court, 2000-2010,” was released last week by Court Watch, a project of the Texas Watch Foundation. Among the report’s findings was that consumers lost an average of 79% of cases at the high court and that the court overturned 74% of local juries who found in favor of consumers. Read More »

Audio: Braddock & Winslow Talk SCOTX

Texas Watch—January 26th, 2012

Our new report about the Texas Supreme Court’s pro-defendant record is already getting attention from the media. Check out the story from the Texas Tribune and take a listen to Texas Watch’s executive director Alex Winslow discuss the report’s findings with Scott Braddock on News 92fm this morning. Read More »

Report: Decade-Long Review Shows Texas Supreme Court Is Activist, Ideological

Court Watch—January 26th, 2012

The Texas Supreme Court has a long history of favoring corporate defendants over families and small businesses, according to a decade-long review of the Court’s decision making by Court Watch, a project of the non-profit Texas Watch Foundation.

Court Watch reviewed the 624 cases involving consumers decided by the Court between 2000 and 2010. The report, “Thumbs on the Scale: A Retrospective of the Texas Supreme Court, 2000-2010,” finds that the state’s high court for civil matters “has marched in lock-step to consistently and overwhelmingly reward corporate defendants and the government at the expense of Texas families.” Read More »

So, Just What Is a Junk Policy?

Texas Watch—January 25th, 2012

So, just what is a junk insurance policy? Sen. Leticia Van de Putte said she’s been hearing from constituents who are fed up with junk policies with what she called “luscious exclusions” and “skyrocketing” deductibles. She asked Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman about this at a recent committee hearing. Kitzman was unaware of the problem.

Well, we are aware of the problem. So, we sent Sen. Van de Putte a letter outlining the problem (and we sent a copy to Commissioner Kitzman too). Read More »

VIDEO: Commissioner Kitzman on Junk Policies

January 11th, 2012

At Texas Watch, we hear from families virtually every day who have endured a never-ending line of home insurance rate increases. In fact, The Dallas Morning News reported yesterday that Texans are paying the highest home insurance premiums in the nation. Sadly, this isn’t new. Texans have paid among the nation’s highest rates for as long as anyone can remember. Homeowners are also angered by the growing number of junk insurance policies that are flooding the market.

State Farm Continues to Avoid Accountability

December 14th, 2011

In a case that’s been dragging on since 2003, State Farm has sought to avoid accountability to their policyholders and refuses to pay back overcharges. The latest chapter in this saga occurred today when the parties argued before the Third Court of Appeals. Here is a statement from Texas Watch executive director Alex Winslow: Read More »

Hot Coffee DVD Giveaway Winners

December 9th, 2011

We asked you to tell us why you believe in access to the civil justice system, and you delivered! After pouring through the numerous submissions, we’ve picked the winners. Take a look at what you said… Read More »

Report Finds Texas Lags in Access to Health Care; Proves Special Interests Wrong on Impact of Tort “Reform”

Texas Watch—December 5th, 2011

A report just released by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows that Texas ranks near the bottom in major categories related to access to medical care. Texas-based medical and insurance interest groups assert that restricting the rights of patients has improved the supply of doctors serving our state. The AAMC data shows the opposite. Read More »

When Are They Going to Learn?

Texas Watch—November 29th, 2011

Just because special interest lobbyists keep repeating the same thing over and over (and over) again, doesn’t make it true. In a recent op-ed piece, Thomas Wilder from the astro-turf lobby outfit known as the “Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse” once again makes the argument that patients should be gleeful that the insurance and medical industries stripped patients of our legal right to hold an unscrupulous physician, dangerous hospital, or careless nursing home legally accountable. Read More »

Giving Thanks

Texas Watch—November 22nd, 2011

As we enter the holiday season, here at Texas Watch we can’t help but reflect on how grateful we are for the support of our grassroots supporters and activists. Our work would mean nothing without the constant support and action you take when we send out the call.

Texas Watch—Consumer Protection. Corporate Accountability. Citizen Advocacy.