PACT in the news.
Investigative coverage, campaign updates, and analysis on lawsuit abuse and predatory legal advertising.
Investigative coverage, campaign updates, and analysis on lawsuit abuse and predatory legal advertising.
September 10, 2026newsday.comNew poll finds growing support for prosecuting staged-accident fraud, Scaffold Law reform
More than two-thirds of New York voters support reforming the 140-year-old Scaffold Law, and nearly 95% want prosecutors to target individuals who intentionally stage crashes and fabricate injuries, according to a new Empire Center for Public Policy poll of 600 likely 2026 voters — the latest evidence of public demand to crack down on staged-accident fraud and the state's outlier liability laws that drive insurance costs 500% higher than in other states.
- ReutersSeptember 9, 2026reuters.com
Litigation finance disclosure rule in Louisiana expands transparency push in U.S. courts
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a standing order requiring parties to disclose the name and address of any third-party litigation funders backing their cases, adding to a growing patchwork of federal court orders and state laws demanding transparency around litigation financing agreements that have so far eluded nationwide rules from Congress.
August 28, 2026wsj.comCalifornia Passed a Law to Help Abuse Victims. It's Costing Taxpayers Billions.
California's decision to reopen the window for decades-old childhood sexual abuse claims has unleashed a wave of lawsuits against school districts, counties and cities — with settlements and legal costs now running into the billions and squeezing budgets for classrooms, public safety and basic services.
August 26, 2026ajc.comMarietta man wins $4.3M in fight against Morgan & Morgan
Robert Wyrosdick accused law firm Morgan & Morgan of settling his lawsuit for $45,000 without his permission. He won $4.3 million in his legal malpractice fight.
- The New York TimesAugust 19, 2026nytimes.com
How Wall Street Profits When Personal Injury Lawsuits Pay Out
A New York Times investigation by Ellen Gabler finds that consumer legal funders are bundling cash advances to personal injury plaintiffs into asset-backed securities — more than two dozen deals since 2020 raising $2.8 billion — with advances carrying 35 to 45 percent annual fees and interest, fueling demand for more and higher-value cases as fraud and racketeering allegations mount.
- Tampa Bay TimesAugust 17, 2026tampabay.com
Criminals Shouldn’t Profit By Turning Our Highways Into Crime Scenes
PACT Executive Director Lauren Zelt argues in the Tampa Bay Times that staged-crash rings have turned Florida highways into crime scenes — and that the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act would stop fraudsters and the lawyers who profit from them from collecting on crashes they caused.
- California GlobeAugust 10, 2026californiaglobe.com
Lawsuit Abuse Is Raising California’s Cost of Living
Tort costs in the United States reached $529 billion in 2022 — 2.1 percent of GDP — and California remains what the American Tort Reform Foundation calls “the trial bar’s laboratory,” producing 199 nuclear verdicts worth more than $9 billion from 2013 through 2022. PAGA claims and Proposition 65 “bounty hunter” settlements push those costs into everyday prices.
- The Seattle TimesAugust 9, 2026seattletimes.com
WA Paid Out $614M in Settlements in a Year. That Can’t Go On
Washington state closed its fiscal year on the hook for a record $614 million in legal fees, jury awards and settlements. Because the state is self-insured, every dollar of that comes straight out of the budget for public services — a trajectory the Seattle Times editorial board calls unsustainable without tort reform.
- Insurance BusinessAugust 7, 2026insurancebusinessmag.com
Florida Tort Reform Delivers as Carriers Slash Auto Rates Across the Board
Three years after House Bill 837, Florida’s auto market is posting its best loss ratios in over a decade. GEICO, the state’s second-largest auto insurer, filed two more rate decreases covering 1.3 million policyholders — its third cut in 12 months, part of $500 million in annual premium reductions over two years.
July 17, 2026protectingamericanconsumers.orgUSAA Is Sending Up to $1,000 Payments to Florida Residents - Is Your State Next?
If you’re a USAA customer living in Florida, an upcoming customer refund might put extra cash in your pocket. USAA, which offers insurance, banking, advice, and retirement solutions to military families, announced that it plans to…
- July 13, 2026protectingamericanconsumers.org
Florida took on the billboard lawyers. Now, policyholders are getting $760 checks
Imagine you’re a single mother in Tampa who hasn’t been able to replace the broken water heater for months. And while the bills and expenses keep piling up, you open an envelope and find a check for $760. You’re now able to fix the water…
- Legal NewslineJuly 8, 2026legalnewsline.com
Billboard lawyer’s book says the quiet part out loud
A Cleveland lawyer whose face is plastered on billboards throughout northern Ohio has released a book that critics say inadvertently shines a light on a practice driving up insurance premiums nationwide – attorney referrals to cooperative…