Author: Linda Hoover

SACRAMENTO – The Civil Justice Association of California today announced its support of Proposition 14, the open primary measure, on the June 8 primary election ballot.

“Proposition 14 will help Californians elect lawmakers who will spend less time squabbling with one another and more time putting our state back on financial track,” said CJAC President John H. Sullivan.

“The Civil Justice Association is supporting Proposition 14 because it will enable more candidates to run who cannot be captured by narrow, special interests such as the personal injury lawyer industry.”

He said the Proposition 14’s benefits are well-summarized in a Ventura County Star editorial supporting the measure: “Memo to California voters: If you’re tired of dysfunctional government where ideology trumps good public policy, vote yes on Proposition 14 in June.”

Combined with an existing new law that charges a neutral, independent commission with redrawing legislative district lines, Sullivan said Proposition 14 will better enable the Legislature to find balanced solutions to the state’s problems. California’s courts, as well as an array of schools and state and local government services, will benefit from a realistic, responsible funding and expenditure plan, he said.

To learn more, visit www.yeson14openprimary.com.

Long-overdue legal reforms needed in California to reduce the number of foolish lawsuits

SACRAMENTO – Many lawsuits are legitimate cases filed by people who were injured in some way and deserve their day in court. Unfortunately, there are many other lawsuits that can only be described as frivolous – or worse, cases in which cynical plaintiffs’ lawyers file suit in hopes of a big payday.

In recognition of April Fools Day, here is CJAC’s annual roundup of cases we can only wish were make-believe, and perhaps would be if the state and the nation enacted meaningful legal reforms.

What – There Are Other People Named Lindsay? Celebrity Lindsay Lohan recently filed a $100 million lawsuit against E-Trade, claiming the hit ad unveiled during this year’s Super Bowl that depicted a boyfriend-stealing milkaholic baby named Lindsay defamed her. Lohan’s lawyer said the actress is so well-known that her first name brings instant recognition.

Are They Cereal Litigants? A man filed suit in San Francisco last year, accusing Kellogg’s of misleading consumers by calling its popular cereal “Froot Loops.” The man said he bought and ate several boxes of the product based on his mistaken belief that the cereal actually contained fruit – apparently not bothering to look at the nutrition information prominently displayed on each box. The case was similar to another class action lawsuit in San Francisco in which a woman claimed she was misled by the makers of Cap’n Crunch Crunchberries. Happily, both cases were thrown out.

Convicted Armed Robber Sues Victim for Fighting Back A Michigan man serving an 8- to 22-year sentence for attempting to rob a party store of cash and cigarettes has filed a lawsuit against the store’s owner and some of its employees for shooting him during the botched armed robbery attempt. The convicted felon is seeking more than $125,000 for pain and suffering and emotional distress.

She Should Have Turned the Thing Off in the First Place A woman is suing a Niles, Illinois, movie theater for injuries she said she sustained after the armrest fell from the upright position and struck her in the head when she bent down to “discreetly” answer her cell phone during a showing of The Incredible Hulk. The woman claims the falling armrest caused her to lose consciousness, gave her a concussion, experience blurred vision, and suffer “a large bump on her head.”