Two bills making their way through the Texas Legislature create a civil cause of action for barratry, including a $10,000 civil penalty for lawyers who unlawfully solicit potential legal clients and do not sign a contract with them. They also would allow clients to sue to void any type of contract a lawyer secures through barratry, although current law allows voidability of only contingent-fee contracts.
Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, introduced Senate Bill 1716, which amends Government Code §82.065. On April 7, the Senate passed the bill, which the State Affairs Committee had amended and approved on March 29.
