Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT) announced that the Texas Senate held a hearing last week to examine the effects of alleged lawsuit abuse. Among those testifying, some shared their negative experiences with attorneys during this session. The announcement was made on PACT's website on April 8.
According to PACT, clients have described "billboard law firms" as prioritizing profit over people. They used phrases such as "never about the client, it’s all about the money" in their testimony and accused these firms of referring clients to "fake doctors to steal more money."
One Houston reviewer said, "I was involved in a commercial accident… Jim Adler and Associates told me it would be ‘resolved quickly’—definitely not the case." Other testimony mentioned settlement payouts as disproportionately low, with one client saying, "Out of $50,000, I got $4,000 for injury, they got $18,000 and they were not injured."
According to PACT, trial attorneys have been employing strategies that exploit the legal system, leading to economic burdens on consumers and businesses. These practices, says PACT, include artificially inflating medical bills, engaging in misleading advertising, and utilizing third-party litigation funding that often benefits lawyers and investors more than plaintiffs. Such tactics not only clog the courts but also drive up costs for consumers and create an environment of uncertainty, said PACT.
The release went on further to say that these billboard attorneys are known for their pervasive advertising and have been linked to promoting excessive litigation while influencing public perception of the legal system. PACT said their aggressive marketing tactics often lead to an increase in lawsuits, some of which may be frivolous or driven by the promise of large settlements. This phenomenon contributes to what's termed "social inflation," where the expectation of high payouts influences jury decisions and settlement amounts.
PACT is a national advocacy organization focused on exposing predatory legal practices and supporting reforms to improve transparency and fairness in the civil justice system. In 2025, PACT launched a major advertising campaign in Texas aimed at curbing lawsuit abuse by personal injury lawyers. The group is part of a broader $10 million effort to reduce legal system costs for consumers and promote legislative accountability.
