Litigation Impacts Fresno City & County to the tune of $10.6 Million

 
FRESNO, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

The County of Fresno spent $2.7 million in verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in these fiscal years and the City of Fresno spent $7.9 million during this time. Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, the money spent by the city in just one year could have funded 75 cameras and supporting equipment for a new video policing program, the Mayor’s Gang Task Force for Prevention and Intervention Services, and the Stamping Out Graffiti program. The County could have paid for three psychiatrists for the Mental Health Division of Children and Family Services, and six detectives for the Sheriff’s Department.

“The city of Fresno is facing $28 million in budget cuts for next year and I doubt reigning in litigation costs is on the table,” said Tracy Leach, CALA Central California Regional Director. “People are going to lose their jobs and many will see vital services cut back or eliminated. Why can’t dealing with litigation costs be part of the overall solution?”

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

 
“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

The report can be found in its entirety here.

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grass-roots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.

Litigation Costs Bakersfield $5.4 million over 2 years - Kern County Impacted for $2.4 million

KERN COUNTY, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

Kern County spent $2.4 million in litigation costs in these two fiscal years and Bakersfield spent $5.4 million during this same time. Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, the money spent by the City of Bakersfield in one year could have more than paid for its entire Parks and Recreations program. In Kern County, one year’s litigation costs could have paid the salaries of 43 firefighter apprentices.

“Kern County and its largest city, Bakersfield, have certainly not been immune to the budget cuts affecting so much of California,” said Tracy Leach, CALA Central California Executive Director. “It is disheartening that vital programs get cut while litigation costs continue to run unchecked.”

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

The report can be found in its entirety here. 

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grass-roots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.

San Diego City and County spent more than $36 million in two fiscal years

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

The City of San Diego spent $32.5 in verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in these fiscal years and the County of San Diego spent $3.7 million during this time.  Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, but the City of San Diego could have paid the salaries of 282 firefighters with the money spent on litigation in just one year.

"For years, the City has been an easy target for some attorneys”, said San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith.  “We're fighting back and no longer paying on marginal lawsuits.  Where a lawsuit legitimately has merit, we want to resolve it. But, if it is marginal they better be prepared to go to trial and then get out their checkbooks because they will end up paying us."

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

The report can be found in its entirety here.

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grass-roots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.

Local Lawsuits Cost Taxpayers Over $37 million

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director Marko Mlikotin. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

San Francisco spent more than $37 million in verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in these fiscal years. Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, the money spent in just one year in litigation could have nearly funded San Francisco’s entire elections budget.

“San Francisco’s already fragile budget can ill-afford the unpredictable nature of litigation,” said Marko Mlikotin, CALA Northern California Regional Director. “Now, more than ever, proactive ways to curtail litigation should be explored.”

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

The report can be found in its entirety here.

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.

Local Lawsuits Cost Taxpayers Nearly $28 million

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

The County of Sacramento spent $22.5 million in verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in these fiscal years and the City of Sacramento spent $5.4 million during this time. Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, the city could have paid the salaries of 60 police officers with the money spent in just one year. The county could have could have covered more than half the costs of building a new airport traffic control tower at the Sacramento International Airport. The FAA reported the Sacramento airport ranks highest on the West Coast in collisions between birds and planes.

“We’ve already cut public safety officers. There’s no telling what’s next,” said Marko Mlikotin, CALA Northern California Regional Director. “What we should do is look at ways to more proactively cut down litigation costs to free up that money for vital services now facing cuts or elimination.”

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

The report can be found in its entirety here.

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.

Local Lawsuits Cost Taxpayers Over $26 million

ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. – California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today released a report finding eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over two fiscal years.

CALA looked at monies spent on verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for the counties of: Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara and the cities of: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose.

“California has 58 counties and 480 cities, so this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tom Scott, CALA Executive Director. “With devastating budget cuts hitting cities and counties up and down the state, there are countless other ways this money could have been spent.”

The County of Alameda spent $11.9 million in verdicts, settlements and outside counsel in these fiscal years and the City of Oakland spent $14.9 million during this time. Not only are these costs outrageous in their own right, Alameda County’s spending in litigation costs in one year could have funded the Independent Living Skills Program, which serves 1,400 foster youth, and nearly all of the Women, Infant & Children Program which gives over 17,000 families nutritional vouchers and information monthly.

Oakland could have funded the entire Police Department’s Port Security program, which provides public safety services, traffic safety and law enforcement in and around Oakland’s airport and seaport, and the addition of 21 part-time recreation staff to support after-school programs.

Earlier this year the City of Oakland paid $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a man shot and paralyzed by police while robbing a church. 

“Oakland is already working proactively to curb its litigation costs,” said Marko Mlikotin, CALA Northern California Regional Director. “But it’s still hard to watch so many taxpayer dollars go toward lawsuits when important programs such as the Oakland Gang Task Force, which was the topic of the Discovery television series ‘Oakland Gang Wars,’ are being disbanded.” 

The information compiled in the report came from public information requests of the localities. CALA released a similar report two years ago finding that three cities and four counties spent more than $276 million in litigation costs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

“Citizens of California deserve to know where their tax dollars are going. Budget shortfalls don’t just affect those who might lose their jobs or services they rely on, the effects ripple to the entire community and beyond,” Scott said. “That’s why CALA is calling for greater disclosure, more public oversight and adoption of aggressive risk management procedures to protect our local government coffers from the greedy hands of plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

The report can be found in its entirety here.

California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the negative effects of lawsuit abuse and challenging those who abuse our legal system for personal gain.