The Civil Justice Association of California has released a new scorecard on legislators’ recent efforts to foster parity and balance in the state’s civil court procedures, by gauging how each one voted on bills involving liability and litigation.
The goal is to assess whether California legislators are supporting a fair, balanced civil justice system with their policy decisions, Jaime Huff, CJAC vice president and counsel, public policy, said in an email response to the Northern California Record.
“The Balance Scorecard is a newer tool, and we are pleased at the positive feedback we have received from civil justice reform stakeholders who are finding it helpful,” Huff said. “Functionally, the scorecard analyzes legislators’ votes and related efforts on CJAC priority bills that promote or impede balanced civil liability policies, including bills that create unwarranted liability expansions, frivolous litigation, or private rights of action.”
The 2022 scorecard was released on Jan. 24..
“CJAC looked at votes on 15 key bills that unreasonably expanded liability for California employers, from restricting confidential settlement agreements to imposing onerous pay data regulations,” Huff said. “CJAC also considered four bills that promoted positive civil liability reforms, including legislation to help businesses comply with disability access laws and avoid unnecessary lawsuits.”
More than half of the state’s 120 elected legislators scored in the bottom 50 percent.
“In terms of what we want to see moving forward, we have started a new legislative cycle in 2023 and legislators will have the opportunity to vote on a new set of policy proposals,” Huff said. “We look forward to being a resource on whether policy proposals will improve or exacerbate the civil justice system."
Huff said a quote attributed to CJAC President and CEO Kyla Christoffersen Powell "sums it up nicely:" “CJAC remains committed to informing California businesses and the public about their legislators’ support for balance in our courts and preventing lawsuit abuse. Each year we recognize and create accountability for legislative decisions impacting California’s civil justice system.”