AUSTIN - The creation of a specialized business court in Texas is among the top 30 priorities for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for the 2023 legislative session.
Patrick announced his list yesterday. The creation of a business court was numbered 27 among the listed priorities.
Business courts primarily hear complex business disputes, and many groups, such as Texans for Lawsuit Reform, believe the creation of such a court would free up other courts to handle other types of cases.
“Twenty-nine states have specialized courts to handle business litigation and the time is ripe for the creation of such a court in Texas,” TLR states on its website. “We have the benefit of pulling the best and most effective aspects of these models in determining how to structure Texas’ business court.”
Delaware’s Court of Chancery is considered the “mother” of business courts in the U.S. and is the court most businesses turn to when selecting a complex litigation forum.
“Texas is home to 54 Fortune 500 company headquarters,” TLR states. “We should have a court system that allows them to litigate matters here rather than in Delaware or some other state.
“In Texas, our court system is specialized from top to bottom. We are one of two states that have specialized high courts, and we have more than 200 specialty courts. A business court is the one specialized court we are missing.”
During the 2021 legislative session, Rep. Brooks Landgraf introduced House Bill 1875, which sought to create a specialized business court in the Lone Star State. The bill did not pass.