Staff Reports
A new report reveals that major trial lawyer firms are taking taxpayer money and diverting it to left-wing causes through public contracts with state attorneys general offices. The report, from the Alliance for Consumers, shows that these firms are using contracts signed with states in major litigation, such as opioid cases, to funnel money towards left-wing political agendas.
The report notes that eight major plaintiff-side law firms gave 99% of their federal political donations to left-wing causes in 2023. This means that the vast majority of their donations went to support Democratic candidates and allied political committees. The report also highlights how these firms are able to use their lawsuits to advance left-wing goals and how deeply flawed public contracts enable them to do so.
O.H. Skinner, the executive director of Alliance for Consumers, has emphasized the impact of this behavior on everyday consumers. He argues that the left has been using consumer protection as a way to push their own political agenda and line their own pockets, all at the expense of the consumers they claim to be protecting.
Skinner is warning Republican attorney generals about how these trial firms could be using public contract money to undermine their work and even support their political opponents. He points out that state attorney general offices often contract with trial lawyer firms on large-scale litigation efforts, such as securing settlements for opioid or toxic chemical exposure cases.
The report identifies eight law firms, which it refers to as the “shady eight,” as the main culprits behind this behavior. These firms collectively donated $20 million in political contributions from 2017 to 2023, with 99% of that money going to Democrats or allied political committees.
Trial lawyers give millions to Democrats using taxpayer money: Report – Washington Examiner https://t.co/gK1XvwXfA3
— Raul Jimenez (@RaulJim60058041) April 25, 2024
Skinner points out that some Republican attorneys general have already started to distance themselves from these firms, recognizing the detrimental impact on consumers and taxpayers. The report outlines several weaknesses in the contracts that allow law firms to take advantage of public money, including minimal conflict of interest protections and the ability for the same firm to represent multiple state governments on opposing sides of the same case.
The report’s findings highlight how these law firms are using public contracts as a gateway to divert taxpayer money towards left-wing political causes, and it urges attorneys general to take action to end this exploitation.
