Plaintiffs' Lawyers Giving Big to Campaigns

Personal injury and other plaintiffs’ lawyers have given more than $570,000 to incumbents and candidates in California from January 1 through June 30, according to data compiled by the Civil Justice Association of California (CJAC).

Of the $570,000, more than $140,000 came through political action committees, entirely financed by plaintiffs’ lawyers. However, individual lawyers and their law firms contributed three times as much than the political action committees – their direct contributions totaled more than $420,000.

“We believe that before the end of the year many thousands more dollars will flow down this money chute from the personal injury lawyers to those they hope will bend to their wishes,” said CJAC President John H. Sullivan.

The plaintiffs’ lawyers show an early interest in supporting candidates for the offices of attorney general and insurance commissioner, Sullivan noted.