Press Releases
Oct 3, 2003
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) reported today that California personal injury and other plaintiffs’ lawyers contributed a combined total of more than $1.3 million through October 2 to support Governor Gray Davis and Lieutenant Governor Bustamante.
Sep 16, 2003
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) said it was tragic that the California Legislature let down businesses across the state by failing to pass legislation to quell abusive “17200” shakedown lawsuits. The association commended the many legislators who opposed the trial lawyer-drafted bill (Senate Bill 122- Escutia) that attempted to turn their shakedown embarrassment into a new income source and serve as sham 17200 reform.
Sep 2, 2003
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) said today that last minute amendments to the bogus Business and Professions Code 17200 reform bill (SB 122 - Escutia) do nothing fundamental to reduce the measure’s pro-lawyer, anti-business slant.
Aug 18, 2003
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) today warned businesses of a new variety of shakedown lawsuits they can expect to see headed their way. With recent federal court rulings curtailing overreaching Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuits, plaintiffs’ lawyers are turning to the state’s notorious Business and Professions Code Section 17200 to file their claims.
Jul 23, 2003
Despite the State Bar and Attorney General’s investigations into 17200 abuses and the resignation of the attorneys of the Trevor Law Group, unscrupulous trial lawyers continue to exploit California’s small businesses for their personal gain.
Jul 23, 2003
A “betrayal compounded by a hoax,” is the Civil Justice Association of California’s (CJAC) assessment of today’s passage of two Unfair Competition Law bills (SB 122 - Escutia and AB 95 - Corbett) by the Assembly and Senate Judiciary committees.
Jun 5, 2003
Today the Coalition Against Shakedown Lawsuits expressed its dismay at the approval of a legislative package (AB 95 - Corbett and SB 122 - Escutia) that will make it easier for plaintiffs’ attorneys to bludgeon settlements out of innocent victims. Coalition members include the Civil Justice Association of California, Automotive Repair Coalition, California Chamber of Commerce, and California Restaurant Association, among others.
Jun 2, 2003
The California Senate, with 25 bi-partisan “no” votes, sent a strong message May 29 that it was not willing to open the door to a drastic expansion of liability under state securities law.
May 7, 2003
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) today said that last minute amendments to a bill (AB 95 - Corbett) scheduled for a short-noticed hearing tomorrow do nothing to reduce Business and Professions Code Sec.17200’s use as a legal shakedown tool - in fact they enhance it.
Apr 9, 2003
California ranks near the bottom of the barrel when it comes to a fair liability law system, according to a national survey based on polling of in-house general counsel and other senior litigators from corporate America.
Apr 8, 2003
Children are being unequally protected in California by a mish-mash of court rules that permit personal injury lawyers to take different percentages of contingency fees depending on where the child lives, according to a study released today by the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC).
Mar 19, 2003
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) reported today that California personal injury and other plaintiffs’ lawyers contributed a total of $9.9 million to incumbents and candidates in the 2001-2002 state election cycle.
Mar 3, 2003
Major news organizations across the country have aligned with the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) in friend-of-the-court briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case arising out of California’s notorious “unfair competition law.” (Business & Professions Code Sec. 17200)
Feb 20, 2003
A plaintiff’s lawyer-sponsored bill that would exacerbate the fiscal crisis occurring in long term care facilities in California and open the door to a lawsuit free-for-all against our state’s best businesses was introduced yesterday. Assembly Bill 634 (Steinberg) would force nursing homes involved in civil suits to undertake costly and unnecessary court battles, or be forced into expensive court settlements, to ensure the confidentiality of documents relating to their residents and organizations.
Feb 14, 2003
The Bureau’s action will stop a narrow band of shakedown lawsuits, but will do nothing to curb overall private lawyer abuse of the unfair competition law. As we’ve seen, these lawyers can sit at their computer monitors, pick up minor violations that have not harmed or deceived anyone, and file a shakedown lawsuit. The Internet and other public venues will continue to provide them information that becomes the fodder for future frivolous lawsuits, simply claiming any business practice is ‘unfair.’
Jan 6, 2003
Assemblyman Lou Correa, chair of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, has scheduled a hearing for this Friday, January 10, in Santa Ana to gather information on abusive legal shakedowns and other misuses of this law.
Dec 6, 2002
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) today asked the California Legislature to act quickly to close loopholes in the state unfair competition law that are permitting private lawyers to assault thousands of businesses with shakedown lawsuits.
Nov 15, 2002
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) today asked the United States Supreme Court to rule on whether California’s infamous Unfair Competition Law (Business & Professions Code Sec. 17200) can be used to sue a company over statements it makes defending its business operations.
Nov 5, 2002
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) projected Tuesday evening that personal injury lawyer campaign spending in California will hit or slightly exceed the $10 million mark in the 2001-2002 election cycle.
Oct 30, 2002
The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) reported today that plaintiffs’ trial lawyer contributions to candidates and incumbents in the current election cycle passed the $8 million mark early this week. This means personal injury and other plaintiffs’ lawyers have been pouring money into California campaigns at an average of $100,000 a week since July 1.
