SACRAMENTO - The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) reported today that California trial lawyers contributed a total of $6 million to incumbents and candidates in the 1999-2000 state election cycle.

"This is a phenomenal number when you remember we're looking at a period when no statewide offices were on the ballot," said John H. Sullivan, CJAC president.

Individual plaintiffs' lawyers and their firms contributed $4.2 million of the total, while the remaining $1.8 million came from personal injury lawyer political action committees. Sullivan noted that contribution studies that look only at PAC reporting vastly understate the amount of money these lawyers are pouring into the system.

The association's study found that $4.7 million was contributed to legislative candidates and incumbents ($2.4 million Senate and $2.3 million Assembly). Reports filed at the Secretary of State's office show statewide office holders receiving $1.3 million. Governor Gray Davis received $763,000, Attorney General Bill Lockyer $360,000, Treasurer Phil Angelides $189,000, and Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante $31,000.

In the 1997-1998 election cycle, trial lawyers gave a total of $10.3 million to statewide and legislative officeholders and candidates. Of the total, $4.7 million went into legislative races - the same amount as in 1999-00.

Sullivan said that political contributions are a legitimate part of our freedom to communicate and select government representatives. However, the public should know when a powerful few are running a massive program to elect representatives to promote their narrow agenda.

Contributions by recipient and prior year contributions can be found by visiting www.cjac.org and selecting the "research" button.