The report this week by California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, or CALA, found that San Jose's annual litigation costs in the last couple years were a fraction of those for similarly-sized San Francisco and San Diego, as well as smaller cities such as Oakland and Sacramento."

For CALA's full report, click here.

The Los Angeles Daily News quoted California CALA Executive Director Tom Scott in an article about Los Angeles County's rising legal costs. Scott said:

"This is money that isn't going to fire (protection), isn't going to the sheriff and isn't going to parks and recreation," said Tom Scott, executive director of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.  "It's going to litigation.  I think more than ever taxpayers are really getting frustrated."

Legal Newsline quoted California CALA Executive Director Tom Scott in an article about the California Commission on Disability Access. The commission's first meeting was held on October 19. Scott said:

"But with a budget of just $80,000, it is unlikely that the commission will be able to do much to stem the tide of lawsuits filed against businesses over alleged ADA violations, said Tom Scott, executive director of Californians Against Lawsuit Abuse.

"I don't know what you can do with 80 grand," Scott said in a telephone interview after the commission hearing. "But how are you going to squeeze more money out of the state?"

California CALA Co-Chair David Houston recently had an op-ed published in the Los Angeles Business Journal. Here is what David had to say:

"Legislators are elected to represent the interests of their constituents while in office, and based on approval ratings, most people feel they are not doing this job well. To better do their jobs, and to help lift California out of this economic mess, our legislators could start by listening to what voters had to say about legal reform.

"A recent poll by California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) indicates voters are now making the connection between unwarranted lawsuits and lost jobs. Eighty-one percent of people in Southern California surveyed believe the number of lawsuits filed against California businesses hurt our economy and 63 percent believe lawsuit reform will make it easier for California to keep businesses in our state.

"This poll indicates that voters understand the consequences of lawsuit abuse are widespread and serious, negatively impacting both the private and public sectors. A recent study by Tillinghast-Tower Perrin found that every American pays an extra $880 each year to offset the costs of lawsuits."

Orange County Register and Irvine World News Political Commentator Adam Probolsky noted that last week was Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week, and Irvine’s state Sen. Tom Harman received a special honor, the Champion of Against Lawsuit Abuse award from CALA. Here is what Adam had to say:

"I asked the senator about the issue. He said, "Stopping lawsuit abuse is essential to revitalizing our state’s economy and has been a goal of mine since I took office. Frivolous lawsuits drive businesses out of California and do little to make injured plaintiffs whole." Harman was a co-author of legislation that reformed the misuse of the Americans with Disabilities Act and makes it tougher for abusive litigants to file lawsuits on based on technical violations."

Travis Hausauer, the owner of the Squeeze Inn burger joint, had an op-ed published in the Sacramento Business Journal. Hausauer said:

"... I now share a concern for other small-business owners who are threatened by shakedowns, sometimes multiple times. Sadly, absent any legislative reforms from our state Legislature, small-business owners have come to accept lawsuit abuse as just another cost of doing business in California."