Project Lawsuit Abuse:
Stories from the Frontlines of Lawsuit Abuse

Posts for Small Business

Woman Steps on Moving Treadmill; Demands That Someone Should Have Warned Her

May 14th, 2013 by projectlawsuitabuse

Louisiana, a state well-known for aggressive personal injury lawyers and sue-happy residents, saw a recent twist in the traditional slip and fall case. Just recently, a woman sued a fitness club after stepping on a moving treadmill and injuring herself. The lawsuit argues that there were no warning signs that the machine was dangerous, and that fitness club employees should have stopped her from stepping on the machine.

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Governor Jerry Brown: Prop. 65 Is Being Abused by “Unscrupulous Lawyers”

May 13th, 2013 by projectlawsuitabuse

We recently told you about California’s problems with shakedown lawsuits associated with Proposition 65, a law that requires businesses to post warning signs if their premises contain a product known by the state to cause cancer or be a reproductive toxicant. Many California trial lawyers are targeting small businesses who fail to post the signs, demanding money up front and giving owners no time to fix violations.

We also told you about legislation moving through California’s state legislature to address the problem. Assembly Bill 227 would offer businesses desperately needed relief from abusive Prop. 65 lawsuits by giving them two weeks to fix violations.

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Project Lawsuit Abuse Newsmakers

May 10th, 2013 by projectlawsuitabuse

Tort reformers have been turning up all over the internet recently. We took the liberty of rounding up some of the standouts. You may recognize a few friends of Project Lawsuit Abuse in there. Here are some of the newsmakers from around the country.

Gov. Brown vows to amend chemical disclosure law

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California’s Shakedown Lawsuits Just Won’t Stop

May 7th, 2013 by projectlawsuitabuse

Small businesses in California can’t seem to catch a break. As we’ve told you, California business owners have long been under siege from abusive Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuits – trolling disability lawyers file lawsuits for the most minor violations, such as signs being the wrong shade of blue, and demand upfront settlement payments.

In 2012, lawmakers finally took action to crack down on these abusive ADA lawsuits, with California Jerry Brown signing reform legislation and offering small businesses some desperately needed relief.

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More Shakedown Lawsuits in California

Oct 24th, 2012 by projectlawsuitabuse

Should the purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) be to make the lives of disabled people easier or to make lawyers money? It appears that trial lawyer George Louie thinks it is the latter. Recently, he threatened to sue dozens of small City businesses in Yuba City over minor ADA violations. To protect its citizens from his lawsuits, Yuba City actually paid George Louie to stay away.

While Yuba City is safe from George Louie, it is still vulnerable to frivolous lawsuits brought by other abusive trial lawyers. Cases like this make it clear that lawyers filing dozens of lawsuits don’t care if ADA violations are fixed – they just want their money!

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California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse Honor Assemblyman Ricardo Lara

Oct 16th, 2012 by projectlawsuitabuse

Editor's Note: Project Lawsuit Abuse regularly highlights lawsuit abuse news from across the country. Today, By Maryann Marino, Regional Director of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, contributed a guest post as part of the continuing Create Jobs, Not Lawsuits tour.

The “Create Jobs, Not Lawsuits” Tour pulled into South Gate for a spirited luncheon and media event last Wednesday. We’ve been traveling around California hearing small business owners share their experiences with lawsuit abuse or fear of lawsuits.

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Fresno Small Business Owners Agree that California Needs to Create Jobs, Not Lawsuits

Oct 9th, 2012 by projectlawsuitabuse

Editor's Note: Project Lawsuit Abuse regularly highlights lawsuit abuse news from across the country. Today, By Larry Westerlund, Councilman, City of Fresno and member of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, contributed a guest post as part of the continuing Create Jobs, Not Lawsuits tour.

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Lawsuits Unfairly Targeting Minorities

Oct 8th, 2012 by projectlawsuitabuse

California frequently brings us pictures of how greedy trial lawyers create new avenues to litigation and abuses of the system.  The recent story from Fox and Hounds Daily demonstrates the broken system, yet again.

Minority communities and small businesses owned by minorities have fallen prey to the latest legal ploy.  Lawyers target these areas with hopes of easy settlements because of the barriers such as language and familiarity with the court system – two things that frequently lead to some “quick cash” for lawyers drumming up lawsuits.

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ADA Reform Not Soon Enough for This Restaurant

Oct 2nd, 2012 by projectlawsuitabuse

In September, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1186 into law. The bill takes important steps to reduce lawsuit abuse in California by making it fair for businesses to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and banning “demand-for-money” letters.

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West Virginia Creates Business Court Division

Sep 24th, 2012 by projectlawsuitabuse

In West Virginia, a state which has frequently topped rankings for having the least fair legal environment and been named a Judicial Hellhole, steps are being made to put the state in the right direction – but are they enough?

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