Ep. 128 - Why Your Insurance Bill Keeps Going Up in Texas | Ryan Patrick

What is driving rising litigation and insurance costs in Texas—and what does Texans for Lawsuit Reform want lawmakers to do about it?On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Ryan Patrick, the new CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, to discuss his vision for the organization and its priorities heading into the 90th Texas Legislature.Patrick draws on his career as a prosecutor, judge, U.S. Attorney and private-practice attorney to explain why he believes Texas needs to refocus on civil justice and tort reform. He discusses the impact of large verdicts and litigation on insurance premiums, businesses and consumers, as well as TLR’s concerns about medical damages, litigation surrounding commercial vehicles, and the incentives created by the current system.The conversation also looks ahead to the next legislative session, where Patrick says TLR will pursue reforms addressing medical damages, staged accidents, insurance fraud, liability involving criminal activity, and other areas of Texas civil law.Patrick also explains how he hopes to lead a new generation at TLR while building on the organization’s three decades of work in Texas.00:00 — Introducing Ryan Patrick00:50 — From Prosecutor to Judge to U.S. Attorney03:18 — Why Patrick Joined Texans for Lawsuit Reform04:59 — A New Generation at TLR07:06 — Refocusing on Tort & Civil Justice Reform09:28 — Texas Courts & the Case for Reform13:48 — Venue Shopping & Consistency in the Courts16:40 — Litigation, Insurance Premiums & Rising Costs19:26 — How Lawsuits Can Impact Small Businesses23:03 — Medical Damages & TLR’s Next Reform Push28:32 — Do Large Verdicts Make Texans Safer?30:34 — When Insurance Becomes Unaffordable33:04 — How Texas Compares with Other States40:41 — Staged Accidents & Insurance Fraud41:36 — Priorities for the 90th Legislature47:21 — TLR’s Strategy for the Next Session48:10 — Final Thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com