The influential group that represents Nevada trial lawyers flexed its political might during the 2024 election cycle, giving more money to state legislators than any other donor as it fended off an Uber-backed attempt to cap how much attorneys can collect in fees when they win a settlement.

The Nevada Justice Association (NJA), through its political arm Citizens for Justice, donated more than $320,000 directly to state lawmakers during the 2024 cycle, about $30,000 more than the next highest donor, Boyd Gaming. About 73 percent of the donations went to Democrats.

Citizens for Justice also donated nearly $500,000 to PACs associated with prominent Democratic legislators. 

This means that the total money spent by the group alone would rank eighth among all industries in donating to legislators and leadership PACs in 2024, outpacing the money donated by the energy industry, finance sector or education groups.

It underscores the significance of trial lawyers in Nevada’s political fundraising apparatus. It’s the third straight cycle that the group has slotted in the top three of single donors.

This analysis is part of The Nevada Independent’s “Follow the Money” series, which explores the industries that gave the most money to state legislators during the 2024 election cycle and their goals for the 2025 session. The series results from a manual categorization of about 11,000 contributions from donors who gave more than $200 throughout the cycle. Click here to see previous editions.

NJA has more than 800 members who pay dues of up to $710 annually (depending on years of practicing law), but the dues are not used for campaign contributions. Instead, donors contribute directly to Citizens for Justice to finance the organization’s political activity.

The Legislature is awash with lawyers. Seventeen of the 63 lawmakers hold law degrees, and most of them actively practice law. This includes Assm. Elaine Marzola (D-Henderson), a personal injury lawyer who is a board member for NJA.

The group has considerable influence in the halls of the Legislature, weighing in on a broad scope of bills, from legislation affecting company liability to measures that might dictate people’s access to trials.

“We really are focused on the average, everyday Nevadan who’s a consumer, who needs to have access to the courts,” NJA President Eva Segerblom said in an interview.

This session, its top priority has been resolving its yearlong feud with Uber about capping how much attorneys can recoup in civil settlements. The ridesharing company pursued a ballot initiative last year — strongly opposed by NJA — to prohibit lawyers from receiving more than 20 percent of all settlements and awards. Uber poured $5 million into the initiative until the Nevada Supreme Court struck it down in January.

Last month, the two sides struck a deal through a bill that states ridesharing companies would not be liable for harms imposed by their drivers or passengers as long as they provide a minimum of $1 million in insurance coverage for drivers transporting passengers. They also agreed to not pursue any bills or ballot resolutions targeting the other for six years.

The bill, which is awaiting a vote in the Assembly chamber, came after both sides met with Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, Segerblom said.

Segerblom, the daughter of former legislator and current Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, told The Indy that she thinks the ballot initiative spurred a surge in donations to Citizens for Justice, which allowed it to donate more to candidates than in any other prior election cycle.

“It was an extinction event for our industry,” Segerblom said.

The group’s most significant political activity did not go directly to legislators, but instead to PACs led by lawmakers that are not subject to the normal contribution limits.

Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager’s (D-Las Vegas) Nevada Strong PAC received $220,000 from Citizens for Justice. Next up was Assm. Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas), the number three in the Assembly whose Nevada Para Todos PAC received $115,000. Assm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D-North Las Vegas), the number two in the Assembly, also received $100,000 through her Sapphire Leadership PAC.

The group donated the maximum $10,000 contribution to 25 legislators, six of whom are lawyers. It gave money to 40 legislators total — 31 Democrats and nine Republicans.

“We have really been focused on being bipartisan … but we also understand who is the majority at the Legislature, who runs the committees, and we want to have a voice with everyone, essentially,” she said.

NJA’s direct donations to legislators made up about one-third of the legal industry’s contributions during the 2024 cycle. The sector was the fifth-largest donor to state lawmakers, with about $1 million in total contributions. The next highest donor was Lewis Roca, a law firm with offices in Las Vegas and Reno.

With the Uber deal struck relatively early on in the session — it passed out of committee in late March — Segerblom said NJA could pursue additional legislative priorities.

The group is behind SB258, a bill that outlines payouts in workers compensation cases where a third party has caused the harm, not the employer (for example, when a taxi cab is rear-ended). It is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.

Other priorities include SB180, which would require a minimum liability insurance policy for trucks, and AB27, which establishes certain procedures for marriage annulment and determining child custody (some NJA members practice family law).