Capitol Weekly published version posted here

By Michelle Rodriguez

OPINION – A loophole in federal and state financial laws allow for sanctioned Russian oligarchs and Vladimir Putin allies to make money off lawsuits filed in our court system.

Through a little known and understood investment instrument called “lawsuit financing,” foreign actors are manipulating our legal system for massive profits.

LA Daily News published version posted here

By Peter Kwong

As Los Angeles burned in early January, my heart broke for the thousands of Angelenos who lost their homes and their most cherished possessions.

After processing the shock of the natural disaster, I wondered how we were ever going to rebuild with potentially tens of billions of dollars in damage to our communities. 

Capitol Weekly published version posted here

By Kyla Christofferson Powell

At the end of January, in response to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, California State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, introduced a bill in the California Legislature that proposes to remedy the harms caused by fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and other climate disasters with lawsuits against oil and gas producers.

Los Angeles Daily News published version here

By Kyla Christoffersen Powell

In 2023, ‘lemon law’ lawsuits for defective automobiles surged in California at an alarming rate, with 22,655 cases filed statewide. These cases represented a staggering 52% increase from the previous year. According to statistics gathered by the law firm Bowman and Brooke, 2024 is on track to be another record-breaking year for these types of lawsuits. 

Media Contact:
Taylor Gonsalves
press@cjac.org 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (February 12, 2024) — The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) is pleased to announce that Senator Roger Niello (R-6) and Senator Anna Caballero (D-14) are this year’s Civil Justice Gavel recipients.

Each year, CJAC awards the Civil Justice Gavel to one Democrat and one Republican legislator who display exceptional leadership in promoting a fair, balanced civil justice system in California.

Times of San Diego published version here

By Kyla Christoffersen Powell

May was small business month, an annual reminder that California small businesses need our leaders’ help.

Media Contact:
Julie Stephens
323.301.6646

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 7, 2023) – Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC)’s beloved general counsel, Fred J. Hiestand, passed away on July 2 in Sacramento, following a recent cancer diagnosis. Fred was CJAC’s general counsel and advocate since its founding in 1979.

Civil Justice Association of California Announces 2023 Civil Justice Gavel Award Recipients

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (February 22, 2023)—The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) is pleased to announce that Senator Brian Jones (R-40) and Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-15) are this year’s Civil Justice Gavel recipients.

Each year, CJAC awards the Civil Justice Gavel to one Democrat and one Republican legislator who display extraordinary leadership in promoting a fair, balanced civil justice system in California.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 28, 2022) – The Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC) today announced the CJAC Board of Directors has elected a new chair, Thomas Lawson, who serves as Regional Director, Western States for Ford Motor Company.

Daily Journal published version here. May 17, 2022.

By Fred J. Hiestand
General Counsel, Civil Justice Association of California

CJAC Files 9th Circuit Brief Supporting Apple Inc. in its Epic Battle Over California’s Unfair Competition Law

Epic’s case charts the outer reaches of California’s Unfair Competition Law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (December 7, 2021) – California has landed the No. 1 spot on the American Tort Reform Association’s (ATRA) list of judicial hellholes, moving up from its No. 3 position last year. This is the 16th year California has been deemed a judicial hellhole.