hile in Sacramento recently, small business owners traveled to Sacramento from across the state to share their true-life experiences and personal stories of lawsuit abuse with Senator Tom Umberg, who also serves as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. They took time away from their busy schedules running their businesses to help promote balance for California’s civil justice system. Their compelling accounts ranged from how unwarranted Americans with Disabilities Act, Private Attorney General Act and Proposition 65 suits target businesses like theirs.
“When these issues come up for vote, it is vital that legislators remember the stories, faces and emotion the business owners experienced with these abusive lawsuits. Hopefully, they will remember their experience and vote in favor of legislation that curbs lawsuit abuse,” said Maryann Marino, Regional Director, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.
Senator Umberg authored SB 92 last year, legislation that reformed the abusive Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) in California. The legislation aims to help alleviate employers from facing abusive class action lawsuits for minor infractions and giving them the right to cure, while keeping the integrity of workers’ protections intact. Governor Newsom signed the legislation on July 1, 2024.
“Senator Umberg was very aware of the burden PAGA suits imposed on our business owners,” said Marino. “We appreciate Senator Umberg’s leadership on this major legal reform that will help both businesses and employees thrive.”
CALA serves as a watchdog to challenge the abuse of our civil justice system and engages the public and media to deliver the message that lawsuit abuse is alive and well in California and that all Californians are paying the price.