Perry Nomination Could Motivate Trial Lawyers to Spend Big Bucks on Obama
Trial lawyers are already gearing up to oppose Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry.
The Texas governor presided over several rounds of tort reform, and that makes him unpopular with the trial bar, Politico reports. “Among litigators, there is no presidential candidate who inspires the same level of hatred—and fear—as Perry,” the story says. “A general election pitting Barack Obama and Perry could turn otherwise apathetic trial lawyers into a phalanx of pro-Obama bundlers and super PAC donors.”
The story cites two Texas tort reform laws backed by Perry. A 2003 law caps noneconomic damages in the state. Another law passed this spring allows Texas courts to dismiss suits without a legal basis before hearing evidence, and would require courts to award attorney fees to the prevailing party.
Now Perry touts tort reform in his presidential campaign, though he’s vague on details, the story says.
