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Looks like the CA personal injury attorneys lobby did really well in the state legislature race (plus some endorsed by Erin Brockovich - a Republican who endorsed several Democrats). Most of these victories are for Democratic districts which have not been held by Republicans for a long time, so the Democrat who wins the primary will most likely win the Assembly seat in November. Seats are held for two-year terms.
Read on: Sample of contributions on the web:
FROM THE CIVIL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA (CJAC) Contact: John H. Sullivan – 916-443-4900 February 25, 2002 Personal injury lawyers are making a mockery of the state’s campaign financing rules, the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) charged today. "Despite contribution limits, this special interest group has dumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into target races – sometimes more money than their candidates have raised from all other sources combined," said John H. Sullivan, president. "If there was ever a situation where the term ‘trying to buy an election’ fits, this is it." Sullivan said Secretary of State records show, for example that as of February 24: In San Diego County’s Assembly District 78, personal injury lawyers and other plaintiffs’ attorneys have contributed $76,000 directly to Tim Cohelan and another $206,000 to his election effort in the form of a stealth "independent expenditure" for a trial lawyer total of $282,000. Cohelan’s reported contributions received from all other sources totals $51,000. In the southern Central Valley (Bakersfield and surrounding counties) Assembly District 30, these lawyers gave the Nicole Parra campaign $111,000 directly and $118,000 in stealth "independent expenditures" for a trial lawyer total of $229,000. Parra’s reported contributions received from all other sources totals $114,000. In the San Francisco area’s Assembly District 19, personal injury lawyers gave the Gene Mullin campaign $66,000 directly and an additional $107,374 in the form of stealth "independent expenditure" money for a trial lawyer total of $173,000. Mullin’s reported contributions received from all other sources totals $205,000.
In the Silicon Valley’s Assembly District 22, personal injury lawyers gave the Sally Lieber campaign $79,000 directly and an additional $60,000 in stealth "independent expenditure" money for a trial lawyer total of $139,000. Lieber’s reported contributions received from all other sources totals $88,000. In the San Fernando Valley’s Assembly District 40, personal injury lawyers gave the Lloyd Levine campaign only $12,000 directly but an additional $80,000 in stealth "independent expenditure" money for a trial lawyer total of $92,000. Levine’s reported contributions received from all other sources totals $151,000. "Plain and simple, the personal injury lawyers want to send people to Sacramento who are indebted to them and their money-hungry agenda," Sullivan said. The Association’s examination of Secretary of State reports shows that trial lawyers have put more than $3 million into statewide and legislative races in this election cycle and "the number is increasing at an astounding rate every minute," added Sullivan. Research on the stealth campaigns shows a series of committees with misleading names either entirely or largely funded by plaintiffs’ lawyers. For example, "Mobile Home Owners and Consumer Attorneys for Sally Lieber" reports receiving $81,000 in total funding – $80,000 from trial lawyers and $1,000 from mobile home owners. "Nurses and Concerned Lawyers for Quality Health Care" reports receiving $206,000 in total funding – $206,000 from trial lawyers and zero from nurses. "These lawyers have plenty of reasons to hide their money and their identity," Sullivan said. "They are the lawyers who tried to drive up everyone’s auto insurance premiums but were stopped by voters in 2000. They are the lawyers who specialize in shakedown lawsuits against businesses of all sizes. They are the lawyers that brought us the McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit. "With the Legislature under their control, it’s going to be open season on consumers and taxpayers with the lawyers laughing all the way to the bank." # # # # # Trial Attorney Lobby winners depicted in red below:
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