Jewish World Review May 21, 2004 / 1 Sivan 5764
Drs. Michael A. Glueck & Robert J. Cihak
Sue Your Boss Month
http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com |
In 1967 our local and national fears were manifested in the movie, "The
Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming!"
In 2004 our concern in California and nationally is that - once again - The
Lawyers are Coming, The Lawyers are Coming! With all our current local,
national and international chaos our enemies of the people, the
trial-lawyers-without-shame are up to even more of their disgusting
behavior.
Unfortunately some of the really bad stuff the California trial lawyers do
leads the way for the rest of the nation - so consider this a "heads-up" to
mount your defenses!
Let us draw your attention to legislation that paints a target on every
business in California as fair game for frivolous multi-million dollar
lawsuits. Fortunately, concerned lawmakers along with Governor
Schwarzenegger are calling on the Legislature to immediately repeal Senate
Bill 796 also known as the "Sue Your Boss" bill.
This lethal bill, SB 796, is sure to be a deathblow to businesses by
increasing the employee incentive to file frivolous lawsuits against their
employer. There's no requirement in the bill that the employee actually be
harmed. As a result, litigation against employers will increase, giving
employers incentive to move their businesses out of the state.
Under SB 796, an employee, including a state employee, could file a civil
lawsuit for tens of millions of dollars for the most minor violation,
including not having current posters, not having the correct font size on
posters, and failure to post elevator permits.
For example, the civil penalty for just one elevator permit violation over
a three year period could be as high as $17.8 million. Companies may be
forced to reduce employment, cut benefits or reduce dividends to pay for
these frivolous lawsuits. There's also potential to lose millions of
dollars in tax revenue as California companies cut jobs or locate to other
states to avoid these frivolous lawsuits.
Legislation introduced to repeal the law (AB 2181) has been introduced by
Assemblyman John Campbell with the support of Governor Schwarzenegger, but
was voted down earlier this month as expected on a party line Democratic
trial lawyer controlled vote. It is to Campbell's credit that he has the
courage to fight for the people and their jobs - but it is time the
electorate takes notice, stands up and gives him some help.
So why won't the Legislature repeal a bad law? The simple answer is $62
million that personal injury lawyers see as theirs because of the millions
of dollars they have given to legislators in campaign contributions. Now
they want their payoff.
According to Assemblyman Campbell, a brief inspection of the California
Capitol offices revealed 14 separate violations that could subject the
State to a $249 million lawsuit. As required by statutory law, personal
injury lawyers will earn 25 percent of that amount totaling $62 million.
Little wonder the personal injury lawyers are so opposed to repealing the
"sue your boss bill." They stand to make millions in filing frivolous
lawsuits under it. Author and former trial lawyer, Senator Joe Dunn
(D-Santa Ana), has opted to cater to a special interest lobby of personal
injury lawyers and add one more example to their litany of self-serving,
anti-consumer money-making projects.
SB 796 is not unlike California's Unfair Competition Law (also known as
Business and Professions Code 17200). The law has allowed California to
become a personal injury lawyer's utopia. Like SB 796, it allows personal
injury lawyers to threaten a lawsuit and demand settlement money without
having an actual client, and actual proof of injury or financial harm.
Comments Maryann Maloney, Executive Director of Orange County Citizens
Against Lawsuit Abuse and Orange County's auburn haired version of Ann
Coulter, "We're saying that there should at least be a victim, there should
be harm done before there can be any type of lawsuit. If we want to make
California a business-friendly state we have to make it a level playing
field with other states that are taking jobs away from us."
Under SB 796, the potential for more frivolous litigation against
employers, as well as the impact on California jobs could be disastrous.
Why would any business choose to stay or expand in such a hostile legal
environment? When the businesses go, so do the jobs.
It's time California and the other 49 state Legislatures, stopped lining
the pockets of their personal injury lawyer friends at our expense, and
took steps that will truly be in the best interest of all Americans.
Editor's Note: Michael Arnold Glueck wrote this week's column.
Michael Arnold Glueck, M.D., is a multiple award winning writer who comments
on medical-legal issues. Robert J. Cihak, M.D., is a Discovery Institute
Senior Fellow and a past president of the Association of American Physicians
and Surgeons. Both JWR contributors are Harvard trained diagnostic radiologists.
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© 2002
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