In 1989, when the Texas Senate was debating a bill to make major changes to the state workers' compensation system, Pilgrim handed out $10,000 US checks to nine of the 31 state senators while on the Senate floor two days before the vote.
In 1989, when the Texas Senate was considering a bill to modify the state's workers' compensation system, Pilgrim took steps to influence the outcome by giving $10,000 US checks to nine of the 31 senators before they voted.