Justices to Review Law Limiting Some Suits

The California Supreme Court will clarify the tort-reform measure approved by voters in November that makes it more difficult to file lawsuits over unfair business practices.

The court announced that it was reviewing at least five cases involving Proposition 64. The dispute surrounds whether the measure applies retroactively to cases that were pending when the measure passed or whether the initiative altered the rules only for new lawsuits filed after the measure was approved.

Proposition 64 requires lawsuits charging unfair business practices to have as plaintiffs people who were harmed by the alleged misconduct. The initiative was aimed at lawyers suing companies over unfair business practices while not having to prove that anybody was harmed.