Candidate for
Member, Democratic Party County Central Committee; County of Sacramento; State Assembly District 10

OBTAINING MASSIVE TAX CUTS FOR TRIAL LAWYERS

I believe it is obscene that lawyers make millions of $ suing Disney and public utilities in class-action lawsuits where the individual consumer gets a $25 refund check.

I propose that the next Democratic President (who I fervently hope is not Senator Edwards, a trial lawyer) implement the following measures which will greatly reduce the income and taxes of non-salaried trial lawyers, and SAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE COST OF HEALTH CARE AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AND IN THE COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS (INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT) FOR LIABILITY INSURANCE, INCLUDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

The package is as follows :

1. Legislation to adopt the English Rule - whereby the losing side in a lawsuit has to pay the legal costs of the winner. (This is to prevent insurance companies paying the "victim" $40,000 to go away because it would cost $100,000 to defend).

2. Legislation whereby the maximum contingency fee in a legal services contract is set at 10%, or the actual professional hours spent on the case, whichever is less.

3. The professional hourly rate for lawyers paid by the Federal Government (and States and Municipal Governments will surely follow) will be consistent with the salaries of the Government attorney employees (instead of 5-10 times). Lawyers will be excluded by conflict of interest from any decision-making power on lawyers' fees.

4. Workers' compensation benefits for back injuries expire after 6 months' total off-work, unless surgery is recommended. Further benefits have to be obtained through application for chronic disability. (It is amazing how these back injuries improve when surgery is recommended).

If you want to know why these reforms will work, please check with an expert on the British legal system on the income of British solicitors and barristers.