{"id":217318,"date":"2009-12-15T11:28:10","date_gmt":"2009-12-15T16:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"tag:www.cjac.org,2009:\/\/1.994"},"modified":"2009-12-15T14:11:38","modified_gmt":"2009-12-15T19:11:38","slug":"keep-california-out-of-the-abyss-judicial-hellholes-report-lists-state-on-watch-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/217318","title":{"rendered":"Keep California Out of the Abyss: ‘Judicial Hellholes’ Report Lists State on ‘Watch’ List"},"content":{"rendered":"

But Several Bright Spots Stand Out in Recent California Court Decisions<\/em><\/p>\n

SACRAMENTO <\/span>— California has been listed first in the “watch” category of a national legal reform group’s annual “Judicial Hellholes” roundup of states where it’s especially likely — and risky — to be sued. <\/p>\n

The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) in making its announcement today said California is “on the cusp” and may in the future “fall into the Hellholes abyss or rise to the promise of equal justice under the law.” The ATRA <\/span>review focuses on meritless lawsuits and laws that tilt the playing field in favor of plaintiffs’ lawyers.<\/p>\n

“It’s hard to dispute the California ‘watch’ classification,” said Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) President John H. Sullivan. “But over this past year there have been some positive court decisions, plus promising rule-making work going on by court administrators that holds promise of improvements in key areas such as asbestos litigation, faster trials, and overall court efficiency.”<\/p>\n

“With the state facing a projected $20 billion shortfall by mid-2011 and forecasters projecting a double-digit unemployment rate into 2012, now is the time for state legislators, who really drive the litigation climate, to enact changes that will allow courts to be more efficient, improve the civil justice system for all litigants, and attract and retain business investment in the state,” he added.<\/p>\n

Two California Supreme Court rulings provide examples of how the system is becoming more balanced: <\/p>\n