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WARNING: This site deals only with the corporate corruption of science, and makes no inference about the motives or activities of individuals involved.
    There are many reasons why individuals become embroiled in corporate corruption activities - from political zealotry to over-enthusiastic activism; from gullibility to greed.
    Please read the OVERVIEW carefully, and make up your own mind.




TOBACCO INDUSTRY EXPLANATORY

ABBREVIATIONS
JARGON
SPIN-MEISTERS
INITIALS
FIRST & NICKNAMES

RELEVANT LINKS
Texas Civil Justice League
ATRA
Barbour Griffith & Rogers
Haley Barbour
Jack K Dillard
Ken Hoagland
McGinnis Lockridge & Kilgore
J Gaylord Armstrong
Shannon Ratliff
Ralph Wayne
tort reform



RESEARCH HELP:   If you wish to help research or write for this project, we are always looking for volunteers.
E-mail the editor (below).

[Temporary: while site is under construction]  

Texans for Lawsuit Reform    

(TLR)


PRELIMINARY MATERIAL ONLY

This was the third major "grassroots" tort-reform project established in Texas by the tobacco industry. The other two were under the control of the whole tobacco industry through the Texas Ad Hoc group of lawyers put together by Jones Day Reavis & Pogue for the Tobacco Institute.

TLR appears to have been totally financed and under the control of Philip Morris. It was created (or controlled) by Charles Francis, a Washington PR operator at State Affairs Company (which had set up the National Smokers Alliance for the Philip Morris). His brother James (Jim) was a Dallas fincncier and longtime Texas Republican political operative. Both of the Francis brothers were close friends of Karl Rove, and had known Governor George Bush since 1970

It is not clear why these three organisations were necessary — perhaps just to give the appearance of overwhelming force, of it may have been a splinter group who wanted to run the 'tort-reform' campaign their own way.


• See Texas Civil Justice League

1999 Nov 8: The full story is in 'The Nation' article "George W Bush: Calling for Philip Morris".

2004: Among Bush's major fundraisers this year is Allan "Bud" Shivers Jr., a board member of Texans for Lawsuit Reform. And the Bush campaign's list of "Rangers" — people who've pledged to raise at least $200,000 — includes Maurice Greenberg, chief executive of AIG, the nation's largest liability insurance company. Greenberg, whose company foots the bill when doctors or companies lose lawsuits, has been a vocal tort reform advocate.

    Changes to the court system are also an issue for many of Bush's other corporate backers, including Exxon — which still hasn't paid a $4.5 billion judgment from the Exxon Valdez spill — and Halliburton, which has lobbied hard to limit asbestos claims, a move that would save it hundreds of millions of dollars. http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2004/09/09_400.html