There are strong opinions about litigation funding with some believing it promotes frivolous lawsuits while others say it aids plaintiffs who can't afford to bring suit against a defendant.
"The No. 1 cause of nuclear verdicts is plaintiffs lawyers," said Robert Tyson, who has sought to rally the defense bar against rising verdicts and settlements.
The causes behind the social inflation theory are numerous, but one of them is that attorney advertising affects the public in unexpected ways, according to some defense lawyers.