The Las Vegas-based Richard Harris Law Firm contributed $861,607 to political candidates and committees in Nevada between 2017 and 2023, according to a March 1 report from the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA). ATRA President Sherman "Tiger" Joyce said the firm spends large amounts of money on ads to solicit new clients while also financially supporting the campaigns of judges throughout the state, leading to a high volume of "excessive" lawsuits.
According to the report, Richard Harris Law Firm was the largest political donor out of any Nevada law firm during that time frame. The "overwhelming majority" of contributions made by Nevada’s twenty largest plaintiff’s law firms went to Citizens for Justice, which is a political action committee (PAC) run by the Nevada Justice Association. Citizens for Justice received $2,804,941 from law firms between 2017 and 2023.
The second-largest recipient of donations from Nevada plaintiff’s firms was former governor Steve Sisolak, who received $134,500 during that time frame. Sisolak was followed by Adam Ganz, who received $133,000. Ganz is a Las Vegas-based trial attorney who unsuccessfully campaigned twice for a judgeship in Department 17 of Nevada’s 8th Judicial District Court. He was later appointed the 8th Judicial District Court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution/Discovery Commissioner.
According to a separate report from ATRA, Richard Harris Law Firm also spent $3,549,805 on legal services advertisements across Nevada in 2023 alone. The firm’s spending resulted in approximately 100,424 ads.
Joyce said in a statement, "These reports provide keen insight into the operation of the ‘trial lawyer playbook.’ They spend obscene amounts of money on ads that scare consumers to solicit more clients, then they financially prop up the campaigns of judges across the state." According to a press release from ATRA, these large ad campaigns result in a high volume of "excessive" lawsuits, which ultimately raise costs for businesses and consumers. Each Nevada resident pays an extra "tax" of more than $1,100 annually.
Richard Harris founded the firm in 1982, according to the firm’s website. His practice areas include motor vehicle accidents and medical malpractice.