LETTERS
Lawsuits, Cont’d
California’s unfair competition law has been a tool of extortion and abuse for unscrupulous personal injury lawyers for far too long. Since our state Legislature is unable or unwilling to fix this out of control law, it’s time to put it on the ballot.
The media exposed a great example of how the law can be abused when it reported on the actions of the now-defunct Trevor Law Group. In short, the firm sent thousands of letters to minority-owned businesses, such as nail salons, threatening to file lawsuits (over very minor code violations, such as using one fingernail brush on more than one customer) unless the companies paid the firm thousands of dollars in “settlement fees.”
No one is suggesting that the unfair competition law, also known as Business and Professions Code 17200, be thrown out. It originally was envisioned as a consumer protection statute; it simply has loopholes that must be closed.
The proposed ballot measure even goes further, stating that more funding will be dedicated to empowering district attorneys to use 17200 to protect the general public, and businesses, from business practice violations.
Gov. Schwarzenegger has stated that one of his main goals is to make California attractive and safe for businesses again. Hopefully the Legislature, which is controlled by politicians friendly to the personal injury bar, will look beyond who finances their campaigns and do what’s in the best interests of all Californians.
Maryann Maloney
Executive Director
OC Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
Corona del Mar
Dr. Mike’s Deep Thoughts, Cont’d
& #149; Trial lawyers aren’t alone in loving politics: More lawyers with backgrounds as prosecutors are running for office, too. While the office of prosecutor is a necessary and honorable one, it engenders a mindset to “get” people. It is scary to think that those who have invaded and litigated every aspect of our lives now want to rule the White House.
& #149; Recently in Growers Market in Costa Mesa I overheard an attractive lady talking via earphones to a friend the entire time she was shopping. Finally in a loud voice she asked, “Did you see ‘The O.C.’ last night?” Unable to restrain myself, I blurted out, “No, I just come here and watch it live!”
& #149; Stolen from EE RR: Just wait until the first gay marriages end in divorce and the parties have to pay lawyers to wrangle over alimony, custody, child support, division of property, pre-nups and who gets the dog and cat. All the fuss will ebb.
& #149; I’ll only say this to Mr. Astrid’s exhausted excuses and alibis (presumably taught at a Trial Lawyers PR Writing 101 weekend course) in his March 1 letter to the editor: Thank you, Larry, for spelling my name correctly four times, not an easy task.
Michael Arnold Glueck, M.D.
Newport Beach
El Toro, Cont’d
Laguna Beach has discovered it is in the departure zone for airplanes leaving John Wayne Airport and is unhappy about this new nuisance. Other cities are similarly affected.
If El Toro airport opens, by contrast, it will have crossed runways, away from the coast, pointing to where airplanes need to go, and no one is in the noise zone.
Donald Nyre
Newport Beach
The city of Irvine is suddenly concerned that oak trees are dying off at El Toro due to the lack of water.
Well, Irvine only has itself to blame.
If my fine city had allowed a perfectly good airport to operate, then the Navy would have turned over the base for civilian use by now. The revenues from airport operations could have paid for the maintenance and upkeep of the grounds, including the oak trees.
JC Carter
Irvine
If we worked together, we could design both a “Great Park” and a very unobtrusive airport that could coexist and flourish. With an airport at El Toro you will have much more truly open space because you won’t have massive development on the 14,000 acres.
Bill Turner
Costa Mesa
