Jul 23 2002 Candidates latest spat: insurance rate reform. "I think it's clear that one of the things that must occur is some tort reform dealing with these unscrupulous lawyers, these mold remediators, these public adjusters," said [Governor Rick] Perry

NOTE: For ten years, tort reform was to bring our insurance rates down and yet our rates have never been higher or more out of control. I guess tort reform will now solve the mold problem.

Jul 8 2002 "Leaky Weekleys"  Moldy 'Lemon' Homes Denied Day In Court Weekley Boys Privatize the 'Justice' System.  "A major developer of this privatized ìjusticeî is David Weekley Homes, both in its own right and through brother Richard Weekleyís Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR). Since 1997, TLRís huge PAC has spent $2.6 million on all three branches of Texas government (see table). "

Jul 5 2002 Insurance industry behind lawsuit abuse propaganda by Tony Bonilla for The Caller Times. "The public should be aware that the insurance industry and big business are the ones who are behind this "lawsuit abuse propaganda". Why? So that they can continue to enrich themselves. They know all too well that there are provisions in our law that regulate the filing of "frivolous lawsuits" and that all of the misrepresentations and propaganda is designed to do nothing more than to frighten the public into thinking that something is wrong with our system of justice. "

Jul 4 2002 Banner Banter  Another builder is the latest to go ballistic over the Cohns' sign BY WENDY GROSSMAN. Willowick Partners, which built a house next door, said that the Cohns' five- by 15-foot sign is preventing anyone from buying the Willowick-built home. The wording of the letter was familiar, Mary says. She looked at the letterhead and saw that it was from the same law office -- Winstead, Sechrest & Minick -- that Casa Builders hired to sue her about the sign last February.  (THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED LAWSUIT ABUSE BY CORPORATE ATTORNEYS.)

Reference: Jun 19 2002 Buyers' Remorse The Cohns say their builder ripped them off with a poorly built home that became infested with mold. They've joined other Texas homeowners who want a lemon law passed just for houses. BY WENDY GROSSMAN 

Jul 2 2002 Austinís Oldest Profession: Texasí Top Lobby Clients & Those Who Service Them 2002 Edition by Texans for Public Justice. "The money-fueled arrogance of Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) in particular has become a liability with legislators, who have tired of TLR always coming back to demand more hand outs. This has forced TLR to distance itself from itself. In an unprecedented move in early 2002, TLRís PAC began to launder its financial muscle through other business PACs, transferring $25,000 to TCJLís PAC and $19,000 to the PAC of the Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce. This allows TLR to apply its political squeeze under the names of somewhat less divisive organizations."
 
 
 

Jul 1 2002 A NEW THREAT TO CIVIL JUSTICE The Assault on Arbitration by Texans for Lawsuit Reform (President Richard Weekley, Texas homebuilder David Weekley's brother)  "Another bill, S.B. 1706, would have prohibited the use of pre-dispute binding arbitration agreements in many contracts, such as employment contracts, and would have imposed new restrictions on other arbitrations. The bill, opposed by TLR, failed to pass."

NOTE: S.B. 1706 was specifically for contracts that mandated binding arbitration without disclosing the high cost, and possible abuse, such as the contract used by David Weekley. 

Jun 30 2002 Rich dig deeper to gain influence Analysis of Texas campaign donations shows top contributors are who's who of corporate Texas. By Laylan Copelin AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF "Most are giving the bulk of their money to Republicans and to Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a largely business-backed group whose members believe it is too easy to sue and win big judgments in Texas courts. "

NOTE: Texans for Lawsuit Reform is head by Richard Weekley, brother of David Weekley the builder. TLR is one of the reasons we are so lacking in consumer protection. They support binding arbitration.

Jun 30 2002 "How to Buy a Home Without Being Hammered"by David Weekley "There is no bar exam to become a homebuilder. You don't even need to own a hammer, much less know how to use one. When it comes to the greatest investment of our lives it's caveat emptor -- let the buyer beware."
 

May 16 2002 Who really backs lawsuit abuse campaigns? Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA). Shouldnít the name be Corporations Against Lawsuits? (Enough said)

May 16 2002 Home buyers object to clause in sales contracts Texas House panel hears complaints about binding arbitration requirement By David Pasztor AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Home builders are drawing most of the ire in Texas, said Jackson Williams of Public Citizen, because almost all of them are now inserting binding arbitration clauses into their contracts at the suggestion of the Texas Association of Builders. 

May 15 2002 Texas' mushrooming toxic mold epidemic offers a crash course in the perils of binding arbitration. First, consumers learn that their new dream home is a moldy lemon. Then they discover that arbitration contracts strip their right to a jury trial and force their claims before costly, secretive tribunals that favor builders. The new Lobby Watch profiles a few consumers who bought moldy new houses from arbitration enthusiast David Weekley Homes.

May 14 2002 Private arbitration criticized  Report says court often cheaper; supporters say study is misleading  By MARK CURRIDEN / The Dallas Morning News Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Patrick Higginbotham warned at a conference in Dallas two weeks ago that the movement away from the public court system toward private justice is a "dangerous situation with major public policy implications." 

May 14 2002 Arbitration could prove costly for homeowners By JANET ELLIOTT Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau According to the report, the filing fee for an $80,000 consumer claim in Cook County, Ill., Circuit Court is $221. The American Arbitration Association, one of several private companies providing arbitration services, charges a filing fee of $1,250. 

May 9 2002 THE CONSUMER PITFALLS OF BINDING ARBITRATION A Report by the Texas Watch Foundation  The report raises questions about the quality of justice delivered through binding arbitration between parties of different bargaining levels and documents the uneven playing field binding arbitration offers consumers and citizens seeking justice. 

Nov 27, 2001 Tort Tycoons Poured Millions into 2000 Texas Elections Report Tracks Texans for Lawsuit Reform's Top Donors [Includes David Weekley and Perry Homes] NOTE: TLR is a so called "grassroots organization".

• Altogether, these 24 king makers spent $4.5 million to influence Texas politics in the 2000 cycle, with Houston homebuilder Bob Perry spending an astounding $912,500.
• Plaintiff Carlos Murillo complained that the builder refused to finish his house until he put up a yard sign that said, "Come Talk To Me Before You Buy a David Weekley Home." 
• Dick Weekley of Weekley Homes donated $126,000 to TLR and $208,925 total for 2000 elections.

Bob J. Perry of Perry Homes donated $90,000 to TLR and  $912,500 total for 2000 elections.

Oct 30, 2001 Texas PACs 2000 Election Cycle  Tort Law: $1,481,128 TLR (Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a so called grass roots organiztaion) raised half of its money from the families of just five tycoons who made fortunes in litigious industries: Sterling Groupís Gordon Cain ($200,000); real estate mogul Harlan Crow ($150,000); Cogen Technologiesí Robert McNair ($125,000); and the owners of David Weekley Homes ($126,000) and Bob Perry Homes ($90,000). 

Oct 24, 2001: Texans for Lawsuit Reform is headed by Richard Weekley, brother of David Weekley. TLR is partially responsible for destroying our rights for consumer protection in Texas. Here is a few interesting articles about David Weekley's brother:

Anti-Consumer Legislation Fizzles As expected, the special interest groups were back in Austin this legislative session. Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the Texas Civil Justice League and the other so-called tort "reform" groups were well armed and heavily financed. One consumer advocate summed up the special interest groupsí legislative proposals as "immunity for all, accountability for none." In an effort to influence the 1997 legislative session, one group spent over $1 million in contributions to state legislative campaigns. 

Law firms in tobacco lawsuit contribute heavily to Democrats Cornyn received a total of $191,000 from Texans for Lawsuit Reform's political arm; from Houston developer Richard Weekley, who heads the organization; and from members of Weekley's family during the general election campaign.

A $100,000 contribution from TLR's political action committee went to Cornyn on Oct. 26, eight days before the election.

Members of lawsuit reform group top Perry donors  DALLAS (AP) ó Members of a Houston-based lawsuit reform group are among the top donors to Republican Gov. Rick Perry's election campaign, prompting criticism about the group's political influence.

As soon as the legislative session ended, clearing the way for campaign contributions, big checks began pouring into Perry's campaign, 

Business-backed group wants more civil court changes By CHIP BROWN Associated Press With the support of Gov. George W. Bush in 1995, a business-backed group known as Texans for Lawsuit Reform helped draft laws that make it more difficult for Texans to collect damages in civil cases.

Fraser, Perry tout Lawsuit Reform backing By RICHARD HORN Senior Staff Writer Texans for Lawsuit Reform, known for heavily funding candidates who back its agenda, has endorsed Troy Fraser for the Texas Senate.

Dr. Issues Killer Post-Mortem  On Perryís Prompt-Pay Veto. (Richard Weekley of Texas for Lawsuit Reform,  is the brother of David Weekley, the homebuilder. We call them, among other things,"Corporations for No Lawsuits")

* With Doctors Bloodied, Toomey & Weekley Should Consider Christian Science.
* Did Cornyn Agree To Broker A Compromise With A Politicized A.G. Opinion? 

Aug 2, 2001 [ABOT] Insurance carriers hit with fines  Must pay medical bills  By CLAY ROBISON Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau . Perry vetoed the measure at the urging of civil justice reformers and other business groups because it would have removed arbitration as an option for settling health insurance claims. [Mandatory and binding arbitration is NOT an option. It is the ONLY option.]

Texans for Lawsuit Reform, which urged the veto, praised the fines. "Governor Perry promised Texas doctors he would help them with slow paying insurance companies, and he has," said the group's president, Dick Weekley. 

NOTE: Dick Weekley is the brother of David Weekley. See also:
July 20, 2001  Perry's veto still a bitter pill for doctors By Gary Susswein American-Statesman Staff. Binding Arbitration clauses rip hearts out of doctors. "Perry said he vetoed the bill because it would have prevented insurers from settling disputes through alternate methods or binding arbitration, would have encouraged frivolous lawsuits and would have driven up the cost of health insurance."

July 19, 2001 Doctors feel the wrath of Texans for Lawsuit Reform on binding arbitration clauses.Viewpoints Houston Chronicle. One of the most notorious take-it-or-leave-it clauses is a requirement that doctors waive their legal rights under state law (and, by extension, patients' rights) by agreeing that all disputes be sent to mandatory, binding arbitration, which is expensive, cumbersome and lengthy. 

NOTE: TLR is headed by Richard Weekley, brother of David Weekley, Texas Homebuilder.The TLR is a so called "grassroots" organizations with the consumer in mind. See: Redefining reform  Big business proponents contrive some of the worst bills of the 74th session  By Molly Ivins "Say a builder has been using some cheesy materials that fall apart after 10 years. No responsibility falls to the builder--you have to sue the manufacturer"

Feb 7, 2001 From The Dallas Observer concerning "tort reform" and David Weekley Homes: Redefining reform  Big business proponents contrive some of the worst bills of the 74th session  By Molly Ivins "Say a builder has been using some cheesy materials that fall apart after 10 years. No responsibility falls to the builder--you have to sue the manufacturer"

Feb 5, 2001 Slab o' Trouble  Some David Weekley homebuyers discovered their dreams were built on shifting sands. What's worse, they say, is that Weekley knew.  By Bob Burtman  The Houston Press. "When Weekley failed to take care of the unfinished items after more than a month of requests to do so, however, Carlos posted a sign in the front yard that said, "Come Talk to Me Before You Buy a David Weekley Home." That day, says Claudia, a crew arrived and tackled the checklist."

Feb 5, 2001 Weekley for the Defense   By Bob Burtman The Houston Press." If the Murillos, Townsends and Ganjis tried to bring their suits against David Weekley Homes today, they might have a tougher time in court, thanks to revisions in the law approved during the 1995 legislative session. Those changes were largely due to the efforts of Texans for Lawsuit Reform and its founder, shopping center developer Dick Weekley, David's brother."