Keith Wolaridge, member of CALA's Kern County Local Leadership Council, had an op-ed in the Bakersfield Californian about how legal reform is key to California's economic recovery. Here is what he had to say:

"With the constantly worsening economy, the time to reform our legal system is now. We need government policies that will create the conditions necessary for businesses to thrive and create jobs, not pile on more taxation, regulation, and litigation.

"We are encouraged that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger now recognizes that legal reform is absolutely critical to helping businesses prosper so that they can create jobs.

"The governor has included legal reform as a top priority in his California Jobs Initiative. He has called for creating or retaining 100,000 jobs. In so doing, Schwarzenegger has joined the forces calling for more jobs, not more lawsuits. His plans also call for eliminating abusive lawsuits that punish California's small businesses, saying, 'Unfair and frivolous suits impact where companies locate or expand.'"

Executive Director Tom Scott was quoted in a article on Legalnewsline.com titled, Justice Moreno: Arbitration Becoming 'Judicialized.' Scott pointed out that arbitration takes pressure off the state's overloaded civil docket. Here is what he had to say:

"The point of arbitration is to resolve legal issues outside of the courtroom in an effort to avoid the time and expense involved in the court process. It's often faster and fairer and saves time, money and stress for everyone involved," Scott said. "The biggest critics of arbitration are often the personal injury bar, because it eliminates their chances at walking away with millions in attorney fees."

"Reforming our legal system is one of the most overlooked, yet powerful and effective ways California lawmakers can help small businesses grow and local economies thrive. Now Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recognizes that legal reform is integral to helping businesses flourish and create jobs.

"He has included legal reform as a top priority in his California Jobs Initiative, which calls for creating or retaining 100,000 jobs. The initiative also calls for eliminating frivolous lawsuits that punish California’s small businesses, saying, “Unfair and frivolous suits impact where companies locate or expand.”

"Government policy should create the conditions necessary for businesses to thrive and create jobs … not pile on more taxation, regulation and litigation that kill jobs and hurt small business."

The whole article can be found here (subscription only).

Southern California regional director Maryann Marino responded to a commentary in the Orange County Register titled, "Governor Targets Frivolous Lawsuits." Marino illustrated the connection voters are making between lawsuits and the economy. Here is what she had to say:

"Here in California, people now see legal reform as a way to turn the state's economy around. Legislators who resist legal reform should take note."

CALA co-chair David Houston had a letter-to-the-editor published in the Los Angeles Times article “No overhaul for medical malpractice"

Here is what David had to say:

"Even Democrats admit that changing the medical malpractice system could be part of the cure for the healthcare system. But concessions are now seemingly off the table due to the influence of trial attorneys."

The Sacramento Bee highlighted CALA's report on city and county spending on litigation costs in an article titled, "Whistleblowers, thanks for a job well done." 

The article said:

"Public money that goes to the payment of lawsuits doesn't go to other important expenditures," said Marko Mlikotin, CALA's northern regional director.

County Counsel Robert Ryan said he couldn't dispute the underlying facts.

"If we didn't have to spend money on lawsuits and settlements, we'd be able to spend it on something else," Ryan said.