SACRAMENTO - California trial lawyers contributed a total of $2.2 million to candidates and incumbents in statewide and legislative races through January 21 of the 1999-00 election cycle, the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) reported today.

Of the total, $1.8 million was contributed directly to candidates by individual trial lawyers and their firms and $400,000 came from trial lawyer political action committees.

The total is well under the $10.2 million in trial lawyer contributions to statewide and legislative officeholders and candidates during the 1997-98 election cycle.

Reports filed at the Secretary of State's office show trial lawyers contributing $800,000 to statewide office holders between January 1, 1999, and January 21, 2000, and $1.4 million to state Senate and Assembly incumbents and candidates. Governor Gray Davis' campaign received $540,000 in plaintiffs' lawyer money (4% of total contributions received) while Attorney General Bill Lockyer received $134,000 from trial lawyers (11% of his total campaign contributions during the period).

"Trial lawyers and their supporters are mounting an increased effort this year to eliminate the use of binding arbitration agreements to settle disputes -- especially those related to health care," commented John H. Sullivan, CJAC president. "The relatively small segment of the state's lawyers who can afford to contribute multi-millions to candidates can afford to pay for all the medical services they need. The majority of Californians not so fortunate will be relying on the Legislature to protect them from bad laws that will enrich lawyers and make everyone else pay in the form of higher insurance and deductibles and less access to health care."

Sullivan added that while political contributions are a legitimate part of our freedom to communicate and select our representatives in government, the public should know when narrow interests are running a massive program to elect people they hope will look out for them in Sacramento.

Contributions (by recipient) and prior year can be found at www.cjac.org by clicking on "research."