CJAC is opposing an expansive new reviver bill that was introduced in the Assembly, AB 2777 (Wicks), also known as the “Sexual Abuse Cover Up Accountability Act.”

CJAC has released its second annual Balance Scorecard for the 2021 legislative year, which evaluates legislators and their efforts to promote a fair, balanced civil justice system – placing them in the top or bottom half of all California legislators.

The Balance Scorecard analyzes legislators’ votes and related efforts on CJAC priority bills that promote or impede balanced civil liability policies, including bills that create unwarranted liability expansions, frivolous litigation, or private rights of action (PRAs).

Two bad bill ideas from 2021 have come back to life in new bill vehicles introduced this session. These are bills that CJAC opposed and fought last year, and we will continue our efforts against them this year as well:

On March 30, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Viking River Cruises, Inc. v. Angie Moriana. CJAC filed an amicus brief in the case on February 7.

At issue is whether the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) requires enforcement of a bilateral arbitration agreement between employer and employee providing that the employee cannot raise representative claims, including under California’s statutory Private Attorney General Act (PAGA).

Justice Patricia Guerrero was confirmed to the California Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 22, making history as the first Latina woman to serve on the state’s highest court. She was sworn in on March 28.

The California Supreme Court has released its agenda for hearings December 7, which will include oral argument for three cases that CJAC has weighed in on.

The Judicial Council of California has commenced rulemaking to implement SB 241, which will make remote court proceedings a permanent fixture in California’s court system.

Earlier this month the California Supreme Court denied review in Qaadir v. Figueroa, et al. CJAC had filed a letter brief on September 29 urging the review of Second Appellate Court’s decision.

Last week, a Ninth Circuit panel ruled, 2-1, in Chamber of Commerce v. Bonta to lift the injunction on California’s Assembly Bill 51, which bans arbitration agreements that are required as a condition of employment. 

The panel held AB 51’s ban is not preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). In a confusing analysis, the court reasoned that AB 51 merely deals with “pre-agreement behavior” and only prohibits agreements that are not “consensual.”