SACRAMENTO — With the California legislative session in full swing, California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse has found a series of bills it is supporting and opposing in order to prevent courts from being clogged and to protect small business owners.
“We have some good bills we’ll be supporting,” Maryann Marino, Southern California regional director, California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) told Northern California Record.
The group supports Assembly Bill 913, a bill sponsored by Assemblymember Adam Gray, which would prevent frequent filers.
The bill would allow a judge to block people who have filed more than 15 Americans with Disability Act cases.
“This would provide relief to small business owners,” Marino said.
California CALA is also in support of Assembly Bills 1429 and 1430, both sponsored by Assemblymember Vince Fong.
“These bills would curb wage and hour lawsuits that are exploding in California,” Marino said.
Aggrieved employees must file a complaint with the labor board first rather than immediately filling complaints with the courts.
The group has offered support of AB 281, sponsored by Assemblymember Rudy Salas.
“This is a bill that would amend the private attorney general act and tighten up what employees can sue employers for,” Julie Griffiths, Northern and Central California regional director for California CALA.
When there is an issue, such as an incorrect wage statement, employers have a corrective action period to address the issue before a lawsuit can we filed.
The final bill the group will be supporting is AB 1583, sponsored by Assemblymember Ed Chau.
This bill would require a plaintiff receive a certification of merit on a complaint before being allowed to file a Proposition 65, warning labels suit.
There are a couple of bills the group will be opposing this legislative session, including AB 5.
This bill would mandate that employers offer their part-time employees more hours before a hiring a new employee.
Griffith said the bill is too ambiguous and could “open a can of worms” if the language is not made clearer.
Finally, the group is opposed to AB 814, sponsored by Assemblymember Richard Bloom. This bill would allow city attorneys to go on what Griffith refers to as “fishing expeditions,” by allowing the attorneys to subpoena documents before a case is filled.
“This could be really dangerous,” Griffith said.
On April 4, CALA joined with Civil Justice Association of California to host a rally in front of the Capitol building to show support and opposition to these bills. They will continue their support and opposition as the session moves forward.
Griffith said that have focused on these “to keep frivolous lawsuits from the courts,” which would hurt small business owners and to prevent clogging in the courts.