News


Read about legal reform in California and from across the country.


News From California

May 26
Some Seek Pay-as-You-Lose Legal System to Curb Frivolous Suits
A day before the San Diego Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse held its annual luncheon highlighting the adverse impacts of lawsuit abuse on businesses and the economy, William Lerach, a disbarred attorney who participated in kickback schemes that secretly paid plaintiffs for hundreds of class-action lawsuits brought against U.S. companies, reported to a low-security California prison to serve a two-year term.

May 13
Opinion: Legal reform wanted
In a shocker to no one, once again California ranks near the bottom of the list in terms of the fairness of its legal climate, coming in at 44th in the nation in the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform's annual report on litigation climates

April 23
Chamber of Commerce ranks state's legal climate low
California has the seventh-worst legal climate in the nation for business, according to a survey released Wednesday by a leading business lobby.

April 23
California's Legal System Among Worst According to U.S. Chamber
There's a survey out today that shows California's legal system is among the worst in the nation for businesses. From Sacramento Steve Shadley reports that the study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks each state based on attorney interviews and the outcome of class action lawsuits.

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News From Across the Country

February 26
Overly Punitive?
The Supreme Court overturns a big tobacco verdict.

February 21
Justices Overturn Tobacco Award
The Supreme Court yesterday overturned a nearly $80 million verdict intended to punish the Philip Morris tobacco company for endangering the lives of smokers, and the justices set limits on how jurors can decide to make big business pay for wrongdoing.

February 08
Bush renews call for tort reform
President's criticism of suits is rejected by lawyers association

February 01
Physician lobby shifts strategy on medical-liability reform
Although physician lobbyists recognize that their years-long quest for a federal law capping medical-malpractice lawsuit awards is unlikely to be fulfilled by the Democratic Congress, they are taking the long view.

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