Plaintiff trial lawyers have already pumped an amazing $79,000 into the campaign coffers of Jim Lacy in the primary race for the 73rd Assembly District.

"This means two of every three Lacy dollars have come from personal injury trial lawyers," said John H. Sullivan, president of the Civil Justice Association of California.? "Voters in Tuesday's election should be forewarned of this new attempt of the trial lawyer industry to infiltrate the Legislature."

"Trial lawyers have developed into the most well-heeled, single-interest group in the nation, and their single interest is in getting more laws passed to let them bring more outlandish lawsuits and collect big fees at the expense of tax-paying consumers."

An analysis of reports filed with the Secretary of State shows that from January 1 through May 26, trial lawyers' political action committees have given legislative candidates across the state at least $800,000.

"While the total amounts contributed by trial lawyer groups is awesome by itself, you don't get the full story of their influence until you add money from individual lawyers and the money both individuals and lawyer political committees send to candidates indirectly," Sullivan said.

Other big recipients of trial lawyer money over the past two election cycles to date include: Senator Jack O'Connell (D-Carpinteria) - $170,000; Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) -? $103,000; Assemblyman Howard Wayne (D-San Diego) - $74,000; Assemblymember Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) - $90,000;? Assemblymember Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), and Senator Hilda Solis (D-El Monte) - $66,000.

"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 after them in Sacramento," Sullivan said.