Tomorrow is Election Day and CALA calls on you to consider where your candidates stand on lawsuit abuse and legal reform when you go to the polls. Personal injury lawyers have set the agenda in Sacramento that perpetuates lawsuit abuse for far too long. We need to say “enough is enough” and we need legislators who agree that California needs more jobs, not more lawsuits.
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) has in the past and will continue to make voter education a key part of our mission. This year is no different and we want our supporters and people who care about legal reform to know where their candidates stand. This year, we asked candidates in three of the more contentious races (Assembly Districts 5, 10 and 15) to tell us where they stand on legal reform. Below is a sampling of the responses we received from the candidates.
Assembly District 5
Richard Pan
Andy Pugno
Will you support legislation to protect businesses in the state from frivolous or unfair lawsuits or do you think the current laws are sufficient?
No response
Yes
Do you agree that judges should be given the authority to dismiss frivolous claims from a lawsuit while allowing the rest of the suit to continue?
No response
Yes
Would you support legislation to strengthen penalties against lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits?
No response
Yes
Will you support legislation that brings fairness to class action lawsuits by allowing both sides an opportunity to appeal judges’ decisions in class actions?
No response
Yes
Do you support existing policies that protect patient safety and access to care by reasonably limiting non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases?
No response
Yes
Have you accepted or will you accept campaign contributions from the Consumer Attorneys of California?
No response
No
Assembly District 10
Alyson Huber
Jack Sieglock
Will you support legislation to protect businesses in the state from frivolous or unfair lawsuits or do you think the current laws are sufficient?
No response
Yes
Do you agree that judges should be given the authority to dismiss frivolous claims from a lawsuit while allowing the rest of the suit to continue?
No response
Yes
Would you support legislation to strengthen penalties against lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits?
No response
Yes
Will you support legislation that brings fairness to class action lawsuits by allowing both sides an opportunity to appeal judges’ decisions in class actions?
No response
Yes
Do you support existing policies that protect patient safety and access to care by reasonably limiting non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases?
No response
Yes
Have you accepted or will you accept campaign contributions from the Consumer Attorneys of California?
No response
No
Assembly District 15
Joan Buchanan
Abram Wilson
Will you support legislation to protect businesses in the state from frivolous or unfair lawsuits or do you think the current laws are sufficient?
“I vote on each piece of legislation based on its merits.”
Yes
Do you agree that judges should be given the authority to dismiss frivolous claims from a lawsuit while allowing the rest of the suit to continue?
Yes
Yes
Would you support legislation to strengthen penalties against lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits?
“I would need to read the legislation. I do not want to see our courts clogged by
frivolous lawsuits.”
Yes
Will you support legislation that brings fairness to class action lawsuits by allowing both sides an opportunity to appeal judges’ decisions in class actions?
“I support fairness in all lawsuits.”
Yes
Do you support existing policies that protect patient safety and access to care by reasonably limiting non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases?
“I support MICRA and have been support by CAPP.”
Yes
Have you accepted or will you accept campaign contributions from the Consumer Attorneys of California?
“I have accepted contributions from the Consumer Attorneys as well as from the
California Civil Justice Association and Californians Allied for Patient Protection.”
No
Senate District 12
Anna Caballero
Anthony Cannella
Will you support legislation to protect businesses in the state from frivolous or unfair lawsuits or do you think the current laws are sufficient?
No response
Yes
Do you agree that judges should be given the authority to dismiss frivolous claims from a lawsuit while allowing the rest of the suit to continue?
No response
Yes
Would you support legislation to strengthen penalties against lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits?
No response
Yes
Will you support legislation that brings fairness to class action lawsuits by allowing both sides an opportunity to appeal judges’ decisions in class actions?
No response
Yes
Do you support existing policies that protect patient safety and access to care by reasonably limiting non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases?
No response
Yes
Have you accepted or will you accept campaign contributions from the Consumer Attorneys of California?
No response
No
We applaud candidates Andy Pugno, Jack Sieglock, Abram Wilson and Joan Buchanan for returning our questionnaire.
Lawsuit abuse is hurting small business, costing jobs and costing taxpayers. The average citizen gets it, but our elected officials have continually refused to do anything to address the problem. Make it clear to those we elect tomorrow that Californians want more jobs, not more lawsuits.
