June 28, 2002

The Sacramento Bee
Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

The Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumers Rights attack on Miguel Contreras for his courageous opposition to the health care anti-arbitration bill (SB 458 - Escutia) reveals the true motives of the bill’s personal injury lawyer sponsors and their front groups. ("HMO arbitration reform bill fails - L.A. labor leader is blamed," Sacramento Bee, June 27, p. 3)

Mr. Contreras and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO know that these lawyers’ real interest lies in enabling big ticket contingency fee lawsuits, not in protecting the health care of people like AFL-CIO members.

When the trial lawyers’ millions of dollars in campaign contributions don’t pay off in fee-generating legislation, it’s not surprising to see them unleash their front groups on everyone who stands in their way.

John H. Sullivan
President
Civil Justice Association of California

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