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East Bay Taxpayers are Spending Millions on Lawsuits

Local Lawsuits Cost Taxpayers Over $26 million

ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

The County of Alameda spent $11.9 million in verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in these fiscal years and the City of Oakland spent $14.9 million during this time. Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, Alameda County’s spending in litigation costs in one year could have funded the Independent Living Skills Program, which serves 1,400 foster youth, and nearly all of the Women, Infant & Children Program which gives over 17,000 families nutritional vouchers and information monthly.

Oakland could have funded the entire Police Department’s Port Security program, which provides public safety services, traffic safety and law enforcement in and around Oakland’s airport and seaport, and the addition of 21 part-time recreation staff to support after-school programs.

Earlier this year the City of Oakland paid $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a man shot and paralyzed by police while robbing a church. 

“Oakland is already working proactively to curb its litigation costs,” said Marko Mlikotin, CALA Northern California Regional Director. “But it’s still hard to watch so many taxpayer dollars go toward lawsuits when important programs such as the Oakland Gang Task Force, which was the topic of the Discovery television series ‘Oakland Gang Wars,’ are being disbanded.” 

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

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.

South Bay Taxpayers are Spending Millions on Lawsuits

Local Lawsuits Cost Taxpayers Nearly $12 million

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

The County of Santa Clara spent $8.3 million in verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in these fiscal years and the City of San Jose spent $3.6 million during this time.

Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, San Jose could have funded 28 full time positions in the fire department’s emergency response unit with the money spent on litigation in one year. Santa Clara County’s spending in litigation costs in one year could have paid for the entire Campbell Library and Milpitas Community Library funds.

“Unfortunately, there’s no end in sight to the budgetary shortfalls we are experiencing,” said Marko Mlikotin, CALA Northern California Regional Director. “That is why it is vital to be prudent with every tax dollar, and that includes proactively curbing litigation wherever possible.”

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

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.
 

Orange County Taxpayers are Spending Millions on Lawsuits

Orange County spent $14.2 million and Anaheim spent $4.4 million in two fiscal years

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

Orange County spent $14.2 million in verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 and Anaheim spent $4.4 million during this same time. Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, the money spent by Orange County in just one year could have more than paid for both the county’s Domestic Violence program and Emergency Medical Services. In Anaheim, one year of litigation costs could have maintained 146 acres of park and 105 sports fields for the same year.

“Orange County is facing severe cuts to vital services and programs like public safety, parks and education,” said Maryann Marino, Southern California Regional Director. “Yet we are doing nothing to curb litigation costs, which could actually provide substantial savings to local governments without sacrificing jobs or programs.”

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

The report can be found in its entirety here.

 
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grass-roots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.

Los Angeles Area Taxpayers are Spending Millions on Lawsuits

LA County spent $190 million and the City of LA spent $136.9 million in two fiscal years

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

Los Angeles County spent $190 million in verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 and the City of Los Angeles spent $136.9 during this time. Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, the money spent by the city in just one year could have paid the starting base salaries for 1,271 police officers.

“It’s amazing that while endless programs are being cut and jobs are being lost, the city and county of Los Angeles are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on lawsuits,” said Maryann Marino, CALA Southern California Regional Director. “If that isn’t a poor use for our tax dollars, then I don’t know what is.”

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

The report can be found in its entirety here.

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grass-roots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.

California’s Largest Cities and Counties Spent More Than $500 Million in Litigation Costs in Two Years

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

The report can be found in its entirety here. 

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grass-roots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.

California Voters Look to Legal Reform to Improve State Economy

Poll shows support for candidates in favor of decreasing lawsuits

Sacramento, Calif. – Californians concerned with the state of the state’s economy overwhelmingly support reforms, including legal reform, to help attract more jobs and retain the jobs currently in the state, according to a poll released by California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA).

The poll of 700 registered voters, conducted by Charlton Research Company in late July, showed just how dire the consequences of the recent economy have been to local communities. More than 80 percent of voters surveyed reported that local businesses have laid off employees or closed their doors. More than half believe that there are too many lawsuits in the state and that lawsuits are costing Californians their jobs. California consistently ranks as one of the worst places to do business in the nation.

“We all know that we’re in the middle of the biggest economic crisis of our lifetime,” said David Houston, small business owner and CALA co-chairman. “What this poll shows is that California’s voters strongly support policies – and candidates – that can reform our legal system to keep businesses in California and attract new businesses here.”

In fact, earlier this month the Nevada Development Authority (NDA) launched a $1 million advertising campaign aimed at luring California businesses with Nevada’s “pro-business attitude.” Similar campaigns have already generated 14,500 new jobs and added more than $4.8 billion to Nevada’s economy over the past five years, according to NDA.

“California’s sue-happy environment has a huge impact on consumers and taxpayers,” Houston said. “More than seven in ten people surveyed understand lawsuits raise the prices that consumers pay for goods and services and cost California tax revenue. Now is not the time to add any additional financial burden to California’s citizens or our state and local budgets.”

Our legislature has repeatedly failed to pass common sense legal reforms. The survey demonstrates that voters believe now is the time for legislators to act and they will support candidates who are ready to do so.

According to the survey, voters across California would favor a candidate who wanted to decrease the number of lawsuits against businesses by a margin of more than two-and-a-half to one.

“Californians are understandably angry,” said Lorie Zapf, CALA spokesperson. “They’re getting hit at the store with higher prices, their friends and family members are losing their jobs, their local mom and pop shops are closing, tax revenue is declining, and services are being cut. Adding lawsuits into this mix creates a perfect storm for economic disaster. Our elected officials need to do something to fix this.”

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California Voters Support Legal Reform by Tom Scott, Executive Director

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