CALA Reports

The Effect of Lawsuit Abuse on California's Small Businesses: A Survey of California's Small Business Owners (October 2008)

More than 800 members of the National Federation of Independent Business/California (NFIB) responded to the survey and clearly believe that lawsuit abuse is harmful to their business and raises prices across the state.

Citizens in Chains: The High Cost of Prisoner Lawsuits to California Taxpayers (August 2008)

It is in the context of the state’s budgetary woes that a critical eye should be placed on a great expense to California’s prisons: the legal fees it incurs as a result of lawsuits filed by prisoners. These lawsuits are a burden to our prisons and to our courts.

Survey of California's Attitudes towards Jury Service (May 2008)

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Juror Appreciation Week (JAW), California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a poll of California citizens’ attitudes toward jury service.

The Fourth 'R' of California's School Districts: Ripped Off by Litigation (January 2008) 

This report explores the financial burden of lawsuit abuse on California’s school districts. In addition to taxpayers whose money is wasted on these lawsuits, many victims of lawsuit abuse are not even old enough to cross the street unattended.

Litigation Costs and Opportunities Lost: The Fiscal Impact of Lawsuit Abuse on California's Largest Cities and Counties (July 2007)

When a city or county is party to a lawsuit, taxpayers in those jurisdictions get hit again. Cities and counties are forced to use their tax dollars to pay for legal counsel, settlements and verdicts in addition to the administrative costs taxpayers already pay. This is money that otherwise would have been spent on providing services to its citizens.

Others' Reports

2008 Update on U.S. Tort Cost Trends (Towers Perrin)

The 2008 Update on U.S. Tort Cost Trends represents the 12th study of U.S. tort costs published by Towers Perrin. U.S. tort costs increased by 2.1% in 2007.

Judicial Hellholes 2008/2009 (American Tort Reform Association)

The American Tort Reform Foundation has released its Judicial Hellholes® 2008/2009 report, naming some of the nation's "most unfair civil court jurisdictions," including Los Angeles County.

Lawsuit Climate 2008: Ranking the States (US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform)

California's legal environment remains mired in the bottom ten states, according to Lawsuit Climate 2008: Ranking the States. A separate survey of California business owners found 88 percent believe frivolous lawsuits are a serious problem.