Professional Liability Insurance Disclosure

Background

The Supreme Court of Texas has asked the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors to give its recommendation on whether Texas attorneys should or should not be required to disclose to the public whether they have professional liability insurance. If the board recommends such a requirement, the Court would like the board to suggest the method of how attorneys should be required to disclose such information, (i.e. through the bar website, in a client contract, etc.)

The State Bar Board has developed a process for obtaining input from attorneys and the public, including a series of public hearings (see schedule, below). The Board will use this process to assist it in making a recommendation to the Supreme Court. Click here for more information.

Additional Background Materials (pdf format)

• new - Pro / Con Articles from November 2009 Texas Bar Journal
• Schedule of Public Hearings
• Letter from Supreme Court of Texas to State Bar President
• State Bar of Texas Task Force on Insurance Disclosure - Final Report June 2008
• Excerpt from Grievance Committee Oversight Report - June 2008
• October 2009 Texas Bar Journal Article
• ABA Model Rule and Committee Report
• ABA Chart of Model Rule Implementation
• Attorney Survey Findings - February 2008
• Survey of the Public - April 2008
  

Public Hearing Reports

For best results, right-click MP3 link and choose "save link as" or "save target as" to download. Open file from your computer to listen.

• Report from November 9, 2009 - Austin (MP3 Audio Download)
• Report from October 29, 2009 - Lubbock (MP3 Audio Download)
• Report from October 28, 2009 - Dallas (MP3 Audio Download)
• Report from October 27, 2009 - El Paso (MP3 Audio Download)
• Report from October 16, 2009 - Houston (MP3 Audio Download)
• Report from October 15, 2009 - Harlingen (MP3 Audio Download)
• Report from October 14, 2009 - San Antonio (MP3 Audio Download)

Your Comments

The State Bar Board will be voting on this issue at its Jan. 29, 2010, meeting.

Please click here to leave a comment on Texas Bar Blog

If you would like to send a letter to the State Bar on this issue, please email it to statebarpresident@texasbar.com

Questions

If you have questions, please contact the State Bar at 800-204-2222 ext. 1506.