December 19, 2002

The Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor
Los Angeles Times
202 W. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

VIA FACSIMILE

Dear Editor:

The State Bar alone will not stop private lawyers from bringing shakedown lawsuits like those hitting auto shops in the Orange County area. (State Bar Investigating Lawyers Suing Auto Shops, December 19, 2002) These lawyers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unfair business law abuses going on all over California. Personal injury and other plaintiffs' lawyers are misusing the state's unfair competition law to leverage settlements from businesses of all kinds and sizes, most recently nail salons, travel agents, convenience stores and restaurants.

We need legislation to close the loophole in this law that allows lawyers to sue a company without a client or any evidence of harm. So far, the powerful personal injury lawyer lobby has blocked even the most modest reforms. It is time the Legislature stands up to the plaintiffs' bar and enacts amendments to end this nonsense.

Sincerely,

John.H. Sullivan
President

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