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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 09 November 2011 00:00 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2011
Contact: Maryann Maloney
(949) 375-0856
Small Business Owners, Community Leaders Call For Legal Reform
SACRAMENTO – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), a nonpartisan grassroots movement for legal reform, today released a report summarizing a series of roundtable discussions with elected officials, community leaders and business owners about the negative effect of lawsuit abuse on job growth and California’s economy and what can be done to stop it.
“Lawsuit abuse is hurting California’s small businesses and communities at a time when we can least afford it,” said CALA Statewide Advisory Committee Member Travis Hausauer, owner of Sacramento’s iconic Squeeze Inn restaurant. “Money that business owners spend fighting abusive lawsuits is money they can’t use to expand their businesses or hire new workers.”
These roundtable discussions, held in Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Orange County, and San Diego, offered small business owners, community leaders and elected officials the opportunity to discuss their experiences with abusive lawsuits and their impact on communities across the state. The event allowed legislators, city council members, school board members and other elected officials to hear firsthand how lawsuit abuse hurts their constituents.
"Every month, we spend tons of time and thousands of dollars defending ourselves from lawyers hoping to extort a windfall from us or our insurance carriers,” said Kyle Kirkland, owner and president of Club One Casino in Fresno, CA. “Until that changes, California will continue to have companies, like ours, wasting time and money that could otherwise be spent on growth and employment.”
While specific stories of lawsuit abuse varied from region to region, each roundtable discussion centered on a common theme: California’s legal climate is severely hindering economic growth and hurting job creation. California’s small business owners are fed up with the Legislature’s continued inability to pass meaningful reforms.
“Small businesses often face shakedown lawsuits even though no one has been hurt. It’s these types of lawsuits that force businesses to close or relocate out of the state,” said John Kabateck, executive director of NFIB/California.
Previously this year, CALA has released two reports and a survey illustrating that bad lawsuits cost good jobs. This report, which will be delivered to every member of the Legislature, will be used in conjunction with those to further demonstrate to elected officials and leaders throughout the state that people believe and understand that lawsuit abuse hurts our economy.
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.
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Written by Tom Scott
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Monday, 22 August 2011 00:00 |
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Legislators, Victims of Abusive Lawsuits Demand Action
SACRAMENTO – Supporters of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), a nonpartisan grassroots movement for legal reform, joined with legislators to discuss a recent survey of voters on the cost of lawsuits to California’s economy.
The survey found that voters across the political spectrum and from all parts of the state believe abusive lawsuits are hurting California’s ability to create jobs, and that voters are more likely to vote for candidates who support legal reform.
“The voters have said loud and clear that lawsuit abuse negatively affects our state,” said CALA Statewide Advisory Committee Member Travis Hausauer, owner of Sacramento’s iconic Squeeze Inn restaurant. “In fact, this survey found that two-thirds of California voters are likely to support a candidate who supports lawsuit reform as a way to create a better business environment in California.”
Approximately two-thirds of California voters believe that the number of lawsuits filed against businesses or public entities in California has hurt the state’s economy, according to the survey.
“Lawsuit abuse hurts the economy and costs jobs. Whether it is large companies facing class action lawsuits or small businesses getting hit with ADA lawsuits, California’s legal climate is known nationally as being unfriendly to business,” said Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton. “Yet at every turn, California chooses to allow lawsuits that hurt job and business growth.”
What’s more, the survey found that more than 7 out of 10 voters believe California’s liability laws make it harder for employers to do business and succeed in California, and 74 percent believe that enacting lawsuit reform is an important part of improving California’s business environment and attracting and keeping jobs.
“This survey shows Californians believe our liability laws make it harder for businesses to succeed and believe the only people who benefit from these laws are lawyers and people looking to win big money,” said Assemblyman Donald P. Wagner, Vice Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
"California voters know how abusive lawsuits hurt the state,” said Assemblymember Linda Halderman. “With double-digit unemployment throughout the Central Valley, we can't afford inaction."
The survey also found that 42 percent of voters believe personal injury lawyers benefit most from abusive lawsuits and 37 percent believe people looking for a way to win money benefit most, while only 4 percent believe injured people are the biggest beneficiaries.
“The number of lawsuits filed in our state hurts our economy, and voters are concerned that these lawsuits will cost us even more jobs and slow our economic recovery,” said Assemblymember Curt Hagman.
“Small businesses often face shakedown lawsuits even though no one has been hurt. It’s these types of lawsuits that force businesses to close or relocate out of the state,” said John Kabateck, NFIB/California Executive Director.
The Bad Lawsuits Cost Good Jobs campaign is a grassroots effort that continues to show how lawsuit abuse is hurting California’s economy. It demonstrates the connection between litigation and jobs, and invites Californians to share their own stories of lawsuit abuse at its website, www.badlawsuitscostgoodjobs.com.
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.
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Written by Julie Griffiths
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Friday, 10 June 2011 09:22 |
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CALA, Fresno Leaders Discuss Jobs Lost to Lawsuit Abuse
CALA Releases Report Detailing Jobs and Tax Revenue Losses Due to Lawsuits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Griffiths
559-213-2240
FRESNO – On Friday, June 10, California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), a nonpartisan grassroots movement for legal reform, joined with Fresno leaders to discuss how lawsuit abuse is suppressing job growth in the Central Valley.
“California is one of the most litigious states in the country with more than one million lawsuits filed every year,” said Assemblymember Linda Halderman. “Those lawsuits cost jobs and slow economic recovery, and the Central Valley has been particularly hard hit.”
CALA also released a report titled “Ulterior Motives: How Abusive Lawsuits Suppress Job Growth in an Already Depressed Economy,” which cites examples of abusive litigation that have shut down, delayed or otherwise obstructed business development in the Central Valley, which has been hit harder by the economic downturn than almost anywhere else in the country. The lawsuits cited in the report have cost the Central Valley more than 2,000 jobs:
· In Visalia, a lawsuit has delayed construction of a medical supply distribution center, preventing the creation of more than 100 jobs.
· In San Benito County, legal roadblocks have prevented construction of a solar energy project that would generate more than 200 jobs.
· In Merced, litigation has stalled the creation of more than 1,500 jobs.
· In Galt, a lawsuit has halted the generation of more than 300 jobs.
“When the legal system is used for greed and not justice, everyone in the Central Valley pays,” said Julie Griffiths, CALA Central California Regional Director. “We need more jobs, not more lawsuits.”
“Money that businesses spend on needless litigation is money that can’t be used to break ground on new projects and hire more workers,” said Mike Prandini, President and CEO, Building Industry Association of Fresno and Madera Counties.
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The report can be found in its entirety here.
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.
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Written by Tom Scott
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Wednesday, 09 March 2011 11:01 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maryann Maloney
949-375-0856
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse Launches “Bad Lawsuits Cost Good Jobs” Campaign
Legislators, Victims of Abusive Lawsuits Demand Action
SACRAMENTO – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), launched its “Bad Lawsuits Cost Good Jobs” campaign today at the Capitol.
Legislators and victims of abusive lawsuits joined CALA supporters at the Capitol to condemn California’s status as one of the most litigious states in the nation and push for reform of the legal system, making the connection that bad lawsuits cost good jobs.
“With millions of Californians out of work, we need to end the abuse of our legal system that is stifling economic growth in this state,” said CALA Co-chairman David Houston. “As a small business owner and lawsuit abuse victim, I know firsthand that lawsuit abuse is hurting California.”
CALA also released a report highlighting how abuse of the legal system is holding back California’s economic recovery. The report identifies common abuses of the legal system, explains how they impede job creation, and provides examples of lawsuit abuse from all over California.
“California consistently chooses lawsuits over jobs. Rather than pursuing no-cost, common-sense solutions that will reform our civil justice system, our state encourages costly litigation that is derailing economic growth and chasing jobs away from our state,” said state Senator Jean Fuller.
“California’s businesses spend more money on lawyers and courtrooms rather than expanding and hiring people,” said state Senator Tom Harman. “CALA is right to expose the impact unnecessary litigation has on jobs.”
“More than any other state, California continually chooses to create laws that hurt employers and small business owners. If we are serious about growing our economy and attracting new jobs, then it’s time we stand up to the personal injury bar and rein in its abuse of our legal system,” said Assemblymember Donald P. Wagner.
“Excessive abuse of the legal system is threatening small business throughout California,” said Assemblymember Linda Halderman.
“Our lawsuit-happy legal climate fuels abusive lawsuits, not job growth,” said Assemblymember Curt Hagman. “We need to close legal loopholes that invite abuse.”
The Bad Lawsuits Cost Good Jobs campaign is a grassroots effort to show how lawsuit abuse is hurting California’s economy. It will demonstrate the connection between litigation and jobs, and invite Californians to share their own stories of lawsuit abuse at its website, www.badlawsuitscostgoodjobs.com.
“Everywhere you look – from our courts to our state legislature to the office of our attorney general – California chooses to create obstacles for employers and small business owners by encouraging more lawsuits,” said Houston. “It’s time to stop this abuse of our legal system that chases jobs away from our state.”
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 March 2011 11:11 |
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Tuesday, 17 August 2010 21:45 |
‘Lessons in Lawsuits: The Impact of Litigation on California’s Schools’ finds nearly
$100 million spent by 12 districts in three fiscal years
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maryann Maloney
949-375-0856
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report on litigation costs to 12 of California’s school districts, finding that in just three fiscal years, these schools spent $98.7 million on lawsuits.
The report examined verdicts, settlements and outside counsel costs to Capistrano Unified, Elk Grove Unified, Fresno Unified, Kern High School, Long Beach Unified, Los Angeles Unified, Merced Union High School, Modesto City, Poway Unified, San Diego Unified, San Juan Unified, and Santa Ana Unified.
“At a time when a record number of our schools are in financial trouble and further education cuts could be looming ahead, we cannot afford to allow these litigation costs to grow unchecked,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “California continues to rank among the most litigious states in every study yet we rank at the bottom in many measures of student performance. The more dollars our schools have to pay in litigation costs, the less we have to improve our students’ performance.”
California ranks 45th in 4th grade math and second to last in 8th grade reading. At the same time, the state 46th in the Institute for Legal Reform’s Lawsuit Climate 2010 report and 41st in the 2010 U.S. Tort Liability Index.
“We hear story after story of activities schools are forced to cut, yet no one ever talks about one of the most unpredictable costs of all – litigation.” Scott said. “These numbers reflect just 12 of California’s school districts. With nearly 1,000 in the state, there’s no telling what the total number is.”
The $98.7 million spent in just three years could have been put to much better use across the state. That money could have paid the salaries of more than 1,530 teachers, purchased nearly 600 new school buses, more than 1.1 million school desks or 246,762 desktop computer packages.
At San Juan Unified School District, litigation costs nearly $300,000 just for fiscal year 2009. To put that number in perspective, the district could have purchased 20,829 SanDisk Cruzer 8 GB USB Flash Drives.
“Education is already a difficult task,” said Larry Masuoka, San Juan Unified School Board Member. “Excessive litigation diverts energy and attention away from teaching, which ultimately hurts our students.”
The report can be found in its entirety here.
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.
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Tuesday, 17 August 2010 21:42 |
‘Lessons in Lawsuits: The Impact of Litigation on California’s Schools’ finds nearly
$100 million spent by 12 districts in three fiscal years
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maryann Maloney
949-375-0856
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report on litigation costs to 12 of California’s school districts, finding that in just three fiscal years, these schools spent $98.7 million on lawsuits.
The report examined verdicts, settlements and outside counsel costs to Capistrano Unified, Elk Grove Unified, Fresno Unified, Kern High School, Long Beach Unified, Los Angeles Unified, Merced Union High School, Modesto City, Poway Unified, San Diego Unified, San Juan Unified, and Santa Ana Unified.
“At a time when a record number of our schools are in financial trouble and further education cuts could be looming ahead, we cannot afford to allow these litigation costs to grow unchecked,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “California continues to rank among the most litigious states in every study yet we rank at the bottom in many measures of student performance. The more dollars our schools have to pay in litigation costs, the less we have to improve our students’ performance.”
California ranks 45th in 4th grade math and second to last in 8th grade reading. At the same time, the state 46th in the Institute for Legal Reform’s Lawsuit Climate 2010 report and 41st in the 2010 U.S. Tort Liability Index.
“We hear story after story of activities schools are forced to cut, yet no one ever talks about one of the most unpredictable costs of all – litigation.” Scott said. “These numbers reflect just 12 of California’s school districts. With nearly 1,000 in the state, there’s no telling what the total number is.”
The $98.7 million spent in just three years could have been put to much better use across the state. That money could have paid the salaries of more than 1,530 teachers, purchased nearly 600 new school buses, more than 1.1 million school desks or 246,762 desktop computer packages.
At Los Angeles Unified School District, litigation costs totaled $13.5 million just for fiscal year 2009. To put that number in perspective, 204 teachers’ positions, or nearly 10 percent of those facing layoffs, could have been funded with those costs.
“Teaching is already one of the toughest jobs there is,” said Bob Arranaga, owner of Matador Solutions and father of three. “Unwarranted lawsuits only drive dollars away from educational areas they could be better spent and drive the focus out of the classroom.”
The report can be found in its entirety here.
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.
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