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For Immediate Release
September 26, 2006 |
Contact: Sherry Sylvester
Phone: (210) 241-5296
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Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC:
Wong is courageous defender of doctors and patient
Cohen opposed medical malpractice reform, accepted
thousands in contributions from personal injury trial lawyers* |
AUSTIN, Texas (September 27, 2006) - Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC announced its strong endorsement of State Rep. Martha Wong in the 134th House District today, calling her a leader who has vigilantly supported the tort reforms that stopped doctors from leaving the state and expanded access to health care for every Texan.
"Martha Wong is a champion who is fighting for the right of every Texan to have access to doctors and necessary health care," said TLR PAC Director Justin Unruh. "Her opponent, Ellen Cohen, is being supported by personal injury trial lawyers who oppose the reforms that have improved healthcare."
Unruh noted that Wong played a key role in passing historic tort reform and medical liability legislation and said she has shown tremendous courage in standing up to powerful personal injury trial lawyers.
"Thanks to her and other lawmakers who are committed to a balanced civil justice system in our state, we have a record number of new doctors in Texas, even in those areas that were formally known as 'lawsuit war zones,'" Unruh said.
Unruh stressed that Wong's strong record in support of doctors and patients stands in stark contrast to the challenger, Ellen Cohen, who personally voted against the passage of medical liability reforms included in Proposition 12 and is accepting thousands in political contributions from personal injury trial lawyers including Hartly Hampton, a past president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the firm of Franklin, Cardwell & Jones, a leader in the fight against medical malpractice reform.
The Texas Medical Center is in the heart of House District 134 and medical liability reform brought critical relief to doctors and hospitals that were struggling under massive liability insurance costs. Since the passage of the reforms in 2003, all major physician liability carriers in Texas have cut their rates, most by double digits. Many hospitals are using the cost savings to expand health care services for patients.
The Texas Medical Board is anticipating a record 4,100 applications for new physician licenses in Texas this year, 38 percent more than last year. A survey released earlier this month by the Texas Medical Association revealed that 90 percent of the new doctors surveyed said that medical liability reform "very important" or "somewhat important" in their decision to begin practicing in Texas. Eighty-three percent say the current liability climate for physicians in Texas is "much better" or "better" than the state from which they came.
The survey also found that hospitals are finding it much easier to recruit new doctors, even high-risk specialists like obstetricians, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons and those doctors are more likely to accept patients with complex or high-risk problems.
"Cohen's candidacy is backed by those personal injury trial lawyers who created a health care crisis in Texas and are willing to do it again," Unruh said. "They will continue to pour money into Ellen Cohen's campaign, but we know we can count on Rep. Martha Wong to stand up for the health care needs of every Texan."
The lawsuit reforms backed by Rep. Wong and others are also believed to be a strong factor in the state's booming economy. The "U.S. Tort Liability Index" released this spring by the Pacific Research Institute, ranked the Texas civil justice system number one in the nation as a result of lawsuit reforms.
TLR PAC is the political arm of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the state's largest civil justice reform organization. TLR is a bipartisan, volunteer-led coalition with more than 15,000 supporters residing in more than 757 Texas communities and representing 1,253 different businesses, professions and trades. For more information about TLR visit www.tortreform.com.
**A list of personal injury trial lawyer contributions to Ellen Cohen is below.
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| Individual Trial Lawyers Contributions Directly to Ellen Cohen |
| George Fleming |
Fleming & Associates |
1/20/2006 |
$5,000 |
| Suzan Cardwell |
Franklin, Cardwell & Jones |
4/26/2006 |
$2,500 |
| David Matthiesen |
Matthiesen & Associates |
4/26/2006 |
$2,500 |
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$10,000 |
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Individual Trial Lawyers & Firms
Contributed to a PAC called Third Thursday PAC |
| Susman,Stephen,Ms |
Susman Godfrey LLP |
4/5/2006 |
$5,000 |
| The Perdue Law Firm LLP |
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6/8/2006 |
$2,500 |
| Timothy Horan |
Franklin, Cardwell & Jones |
4/7/2006 |
$5,000 |
| Sufi Ahmad |
Ahmad Zavitsanos & Anaipakos |
4/7/2006 |
$5,000 |
| Arthur Schecter |
Schechter McElwee & Shaffer |
8/23/2006 |
$2,500 |
| The Perdue Law Firm LLP |
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9/15/2005 |
$2,500 |
| David Matthiesen |
Matthiesen & Associates |
5/17/2005 |
$5,000 |
| Hartley Hampton |
Fibich, Hampton & Leebron |
4/29/2005 |
$5,000 |
| Suzan Cardwell |
Franklin, Cardwell & Jones |
5/17/2005 |
$5,000 |
| Russell Cook |
Russell L. Cook, Attorney |
5/18/2005 |
$5,000 |
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$42,500 |
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* NOTE: Third Thursday PAC has already spent $14,498 on behalf of Ellen Cohen.
* NOTE: Ellen Cohen is the only political candidate to receive contributions from Third Thursday PAC.
* NOTE: Hartley Hampton is the past president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, a major tort reform opponent.
* NOTE: The firm of Franklin, Cardwell & Jones lead the fight against passage of the medical malpractice reform effort (Prop 12.) |
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