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Committee hears proposal to raise civil penalty for illegal solicitation from $10,000 to $50,000
Summary
House Bill 4325 would increase the civil penalty for barratry when a person solicited does not enter a contract from $10,000 to $50,000; supporters including the Texas Trial Lawyers Association backed the change as a stronger deterrent.
Senator Johnson laid out House Bill 4325 on behalf of the sponsor, saying the bill would update barratry civil penalties to keep pace with inflation and improve deterrence. "House Bill 43 25 would address this concern by increasing the civil penalty for baritry from $10,000 to $50,000 when recovered by a person who was solicited but did not enter into formal contract as a result of that conduct," the sponsor said, noting the House had passed the bill unanimously.
Witnesses from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association — Charlie Ginn and Mike Gallagher — testified in support. Ginn said TTLA supported the increase and that barratry has been a persistent problem; Gallagher suggested considering additional criminal sanctions and said stiffer penalties might reduce illegal solicitation and the risk that consumers are referred to unqualified lawyers.
The committee took public testimony, recorded no opposition in the transcript and left the bill pending for further consideration.
