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."

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