CALA Reports
This report analyzes the cost of litigation to 17 local governments in California, and finds that just some of California’s largest cities and counties spent more than $1 Billion on litigation from 2008-2012.
This report summarizes a series of roundtable discussions between minority business owners, local community leaders and elected officials convened by CALA about how minority communities are especially affected by lawsuit abuse.
Small Business Owners, Community Leaders Call for Legal Reform (November 2011)
This report summarizes a series of roundtable discussions between elected officials, community leaders and business owners convened by CALA about the negative effect of lawsuit abuse on job growth in California's economy.
CALA Voter Survey on the Impact of Lawsuit Abuse on California's Economy (July 2011)
This survey finds broad consensus among Californians that lawsuit abuse hurts the economy and costs jobs.
The report analyzes how abusive litigation is being used to shut down, delay, or otherwise obstruct business development in the economically-depressed Central Valley.
At Every Turn... California Chooses Bad Lawsuits Instead of Good Jobs (March 2011)
The report explores how California's policies create obstacles for employers and small business owners by encouraging more lawsuits.
Lessons in Lawsuits: The Impact of Litigation on California’s Schools (August 2010)
The report examines the cost of litigation to 12 of California's school districts over three fiscal years. At a time when funding for education is being cut across the state, every available dollar could be better spent in the classroom rather than the courtroom.
The Hidden Impact of Lawsuit Abuse on Taxpayers (November 2009)
Litigation costs will always be present in the public sector, as there will always be lawsuits with merit that deserve their day in court. However, government entities are too often seen as deep pockets, even in today’s tough times, and abusive lawsuits are filed in an attempt for some plaintiffs to get rich quick. With many of these lawsuits being filed on a contingency fee basis, plaintiffs’ attorneys have plenty of motives to file lawsuits in the hopes of a quick settlement or a large verdict.
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.
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
Lawsuit Climate 2010: Ranking the States (US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform)
California's legal environment is the fifth worst in the nation, 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.
Judicial Hellholes 2010/2011 (American Tort Reform Association)
The American Tort Reform Foundation has released its Judicial Hellholes® 2010/2011 report, naming some of the nation's "most unfair civil court jurisdictions." California was named a Judicial Hellhole, with a special emphasis on Los Angeles and Humboldt counties.
U.S. Tort Liability Index (Pacific Research Institute)
The U.S. Tort Liability Index finds that California's high tort liability costs cause its legal system to rank 41st out of the 50 states.
Tort Law Tally (Pacific Research Institute)
The Tort Law Tally identifies 18 reforms to state civil-justice systems that significantly reduced tort losses and tort insurance premiums.
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.
Jackpot Justice (Pacific Research Institute)
The Jackpot Justice report finds that America wastes $589 billion each year from excessive tort litigation, which is roughly equivalent to losing the entire annual output of the state of Illinois.
