Follow the Money: Nevada Trial Lawyers Edition
ATRA’s latest reports reveal the deep ties between trial lawyers and Nevada politics, uncovering trends in legal services advertising and campaign contributions.
Legal Services Advertising
2023: $137.2 Million Spent on 1.6 Million+ Ads by Trial Lawyers
81% Increase in the Number of Radio Ads for Trial Lawyers Since 2019
25% Increase Spending on Trial Lawyer Ads Since 2019
63% Personal Injury Ads
63% of all Nevada legal services ads in 2023 were ads for personal injury attorneys, including auto, motorcycle, and truck accident attorneys.
$3.5 Million in Ad Buys from Richard Harris Law
Political Contributions
$4.46 Million in Campaign Contributions from Top 20 Plaintiffs’ Firms for Statewide Political Giving Since 2017
Two Largest Plaintiffs’ Firm Campaign Donors, 2017-2023:
- Richard Harris Law ($860,000 Donated Since 2017)
- Claggett & Sykes ($650,000 Donated Since 2017)
$2.8 Million
Or 60% of Contributions to Citizens for Justice, the Nevada Trial Lawyers’ Political Action Committee, Came from the Top 20 Plaintiffs’ Firms Analyzed
“These reports provide keen insight into the operation of the ‘trial lawyer playbook,’ pointing to a system easily skewed against consumers and taxpayers. Excessive legal advertising creates a culture of litigation and inflates costs. Additionally, the close financial ties between trial lawyers and politicians raise concerns about undue influence and a lack of transparency.”
ATRA President Tiger Joyce
“Trial lawyers continue to pump significant money into these ad buys because, armed with more clients, they can boost settlements and payouts when they go after large corporations, ultimately raking in larger contingency fees for themselves. Then, their strategic campaign investments serve to keep the status quo aligned in their favor.”
ATRA President Tiger Joyce
A 2019 FDA study shows the real-life consequences of these ads. The report found 66 reports of adverse events following patients discontinuing their blood thinner medication (Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis or Savaysa) after viewing a lawyer advertisement. The median patient age was 70 and 98% stopped medication use without consulting with their doctor. Thirty-three patients experienced a stroke, 24 experienced another serious injury, and seven people died.
“It’s my opinion that the tone and content of these advertisements imply qualitative judgments about these medications that is just not true.
When you say call 1-800-BAD-DRUG, that clearly implies it’s a bad drug, which runs counter to current medical evidence and also to the FDA’s recommendations.”
Dr. Shawn H. Fleming, doctor for one of the deceased, testifying before Congress
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