The 2014 CALA Legal Reform Wish List
Despite some successful reforms in recent years, California still needs to do a lot more on the legal reform front. For decades, this state has heaped on more and more laws and regulations which create more and more lawsuits. Simply introducing a bill and doing a minor tweak to reduce abuse in isolated areas is […]
The Case of the Smoking Congresswoman
I guess in my excitement to put out the CALA 2013 Legal Turkey Awards I overlooked one case in particular that should have been on the list. The case is that of Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy of New York. Before becoming a Congresswoman, Carolyn McCarthy was a nurse for 30 years and reportedly a heavy smoker for 40 […]
Tell Us Something We Don’t Know – California Is Still a Judicial Hellhole
If you’re wondering what that smell is, it’s not chestnuts roasting on an open fire. It’s fire and brimstone, because California has been named the nation’s worst judicial hellhole in the nation for the second consecutive year. In the annual edition of its Judicial Hellholes Report, the American Tort Reform Association ranked California number one, followed […]
Eggnog and Lawsuits Don’t Mix
As the holiday season ramps up, office parties and social gatherings will dot calendars between now and the New Year. Because California is one of the most litigious states and almost anything these days can lead to a lawsuit, party hosts have to keep liability in mind along with all the other responsibilities that go […]
The 2013 CALA Legal Turkey Awards
With Thanksgiving coming up, we should all take some time to be thankful for what we have. Our nation, despite some problems, is still the greatest nation in the world. One of those problems is the ongoing abuse of our legal system. It seems like there is not a day, week or year that goes […]
Watch Out Those Unpaid Interns May Sue You!
Early in my career I did quite a few unpaid internships. While I would have loved to have been paid, I actually viewed them all as great experiences that ultimately paid off in the long run. Well, apparently that is not the case now, as unpaid interns have turned to lawsuits in an attempt to […]
Do Not Be Fooled by the Trial Lawyers!
A couple of weeks ago, a November 2014 ballot measure was cleared for circulation that would make it easier for lawyers to file meritless lawsuits against healthcare providers and generate more legal fees for themselves. It is called the Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act of 2014. If someone approaches you to sign this petition, don’t […]
Stop the Presses – California Continues to Pass Legal Reforms!
As the first half of the 2013-2014 legislative session comes to a close, it’s time to review what has happened so far. According to the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC), there were over 2,500 bills introduced in 2013. Of those, Governor Brown signed 800 regular session bills into law and vetoed 96 bills. His […]
LAAW Ends, But the Fight Against Lawsuit Abuse Continues
Over the past week, CALA celebrated Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week. During this week, we featured various supporters on our blog and YouTube page, all with the intention of educating consumers, elected officials and community leaders about the toll lawsuit abuse takes on our businesses and communities. For 20 years, CALA has been working hand in […]
Attack of the Killer Privacy Initiative
What do you get when a former State Senator and a trial lawyer team up? Possibly one of the worst potential initiatives to come along in quite some time. And yet, that is exactly what former State Senator Steve Peace and San Diego trial lawyer Michael Thorsnes are pushing. (You may recall that Senator Peace […]