The Stockton Record covered our Create Jobs Not Lawsuits tour kickoff event in Lodi, CA on February 23. Here's what they had to say:

Congressional candidate Ricky Gill joined a group of Lodi business owners downtown, lending his ear Thursday morning to a problem that has been affecting them financially and causing stress.

Each merchant in the crowd of 50 is either defending an Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit or has received letters stating they have 60 days to come into compliance or face a lawsuit.

In each case, the business owners say the lawsuits - many of them filed by lawyers who represent themselves - are not filed so that their stores and restaurants can be fixed to help disabled people. They claim they are victims of lawsuit abuse by people who are not customers but only want to make money on loopholes they claim exist in the law.

To read more, click here.

CALA recently held roundtable discussions with local elected officials, community leaders and small business owners about the effects of lawsuit abuse on the economy and job creation. The Fresno Business Journal wrote an article about the roundtable event in Fresno. Here is what they had to say:

“ADA” has become a four-letter word to many local entrepreneurs who feel like they are being targeted for frivolous violations of the landmark law. Several local business owners met for a round-table discussion regarding lawsuit abuse on last month at the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce."

However, none was more adamant about what she feels are exploitations of the Americans with Disabilities Act than Lee Ky of Reedley, owner of Doughnuts to Go. In December 2010 Ky’s store was sued for not being wheelchair-friendly, but the cruel irony is she uses a wheelchair herself because of the effects of cerebral palsy."

To read the rest of the story, click here.

CALA regional director Maryann Marino was quoted in the Merced Sun Star about the CALA "Lessons in Litigation Report" and Merced Union High School District's spending on lawsuits. Here is what she had to say:

"Merced Union High School District was one of 12 school districts across the state featured in a report released by California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) this month about the impact of litigation on California's schools. The total litigation costs for all 12 school districts mentioned was $98.7 million -- a number CALA would like to see reduced. The statewide anti-lawsuit abuse organization revealed that the Merced Union High School District (MUHSD) spent $884,309 on outside counsel costs between 2006 and 2009. Many of the lawsuits filed are justified, but CALA is speaking out against those that are filed to pursue greed and not justice, according to the organization. Maryann Marino, regional director for CALA, said when unwarranted lawsuits are brought forward, everyone loses. "Hopefully, laws will be passed to curb unwarranted lawsuits," she added."

Click here to read the entire story.

Michael Turnipseed, executive director of the Kern County Taxpayers Association, had an op-ed about CALA's cost report printed in the Bakersfield Californian. He wrote:

"The battle cry across every level of government is the same these days: "We don't have enough money." Our taxes have been raised statewide and we're constantly being threatened with even more tax increases. Cities and counties throughout California are working on ballot measures to take more of our tax money just to keep local governments afloat. The message we as taxpayers are being sent is clear -- our tax dollars are not providing enough revenue to effectively run government at the state and local levels.

"Yet pick up the same newspaper and right next to an article about a city or county's budget woes, you will likely see one about a multi-million dollar lawsuit just settled with the very same city or county. In the midst of record budget deficits, how can our tax dollars keep going toward exorbitant litigation costs?"

The Central California chapter of CALA has weighed in on the abusive entanglement of our legal system for the purpose of stopping construction and industry in a letter-to-the-editor in the Merced Sun-Star. Tracy Leach wrote:

"We were heartened to see the recent editorial highlighting the case of the group trying to derail the Wal-Mart distribution center led by their out-of-town attorney who, by his own admission, is intent on lining his own pockets.

"The situation is yet another reminder of how the abuse of our legal system is costing all Californians in the form of lost jobs, higher costs and reduced opportunities for every one of us."