April 2, 2002

Letter to the Editor
San Francisco Recorder

VIA: E-Mail

Dear Scott:

In The Recorder’s story on "independent expenditure" political contributions ("Bill is Political Payback over Papan Defeat," April 1) it was reported that Assemblyman Lou Papan estimated plaintiffs’ lawyer campaign spending at $5 million for the March 5 election while our association believes the number is "closer to $900,000." In fact, there is no conflict in our numbers:

Our $900,000 is the approximate total of the lawyers’ statewide independent expenditure money. The Assemblyman's figure is about what we find to be the California total of personal injury money going into both statewide and legislative races in all forms -- independent expenditures, PAC contributions, and money directly from trial lawyers and their firms.

Assemblyman Papan has every reason to be offended by the deluge of money into his district from lawyers who believe the only way they can get their narrow agenda enacted is to fully-finance candidates whom they believe will dance to their tune.

Sincerely,

John H. Sullivan
President
Civil Justice Association of California