Plantiff Trial Lawyers Big Backer of Art Brandwood in Assembly Race

Plaintiff trial lawyers have already pumped almost $20,000 into the campaign coffers of Art Brandwood in the primary race for the 2nd Assembly District.

"Voters in Tuesday's election should be forewarned of this new attempt of the trial lawyer industry to infiltrate the Legislature," said John H. Sullivan, president of the Civil Justice Association of California. "This surge of last minute money means that one of every four Brandwood dollars has come from personal injury trial lawyers.

"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 nearly $850,000. Individual trial lawyers and firms have contributed another $356,000, for a grand total of $1.2 million!

"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.