SACRAMENTO - The makers of Pokemon (Japanese for "pocket monster") are finding themselves dealing with unexpected combatants as Pokemon: The First Movie rolls into theaters this week. Adults will recognize these characters as personal injury lawyers - known for filing such preposterous suits as the recent one against Nintendo, for among other things, encouraging children to gamble with Pokemon trading cards.

"When you heard that the 'pocket monsters' are generating millions in revenue, you had to know that the 'deep pocket monsters' would soon materialize," said John H. Sullivan, president of the Civil Justice Association of California.

Sullivan says that frivolous lawsuits are becoming so bizarre in California that the theaters advertising free Pokemon cards with each admission, as well as the parents buying those tickets, could find themselves exposed to suits by fee-seeking lawyers.

"It wouldn't matter if a child is tickled with his Pokemon cards, was thrilled by the movie, and loves his mother for taking him," Sullivan said. "California law has become so off-the-wall that any lawyer can claim he's acting on behalf of children and sue just about anybody and any business by saying his target's activities are 'unfair'."