The Effects of Reining In Business Lawsuits

Re “A Litigious Schwarzenegger Wants to Close the Door to Others,” by Jamie Court, Commentary, May 12: I have run a small business in California. When a lawsuit arrives, all normal business stops. The costs of defense, in terms of dollars and time, are enormous. The small businessman’s best option is almost always to try to find some way to settle -- some amount short of bankruptcy that will make the vultures go away.

It costs next to nothing for an attorney to file a lawsuit. And although Court makes a point of mentioning a couple of “good” lawsuits, these are an infinitesimal percentage of the total lawsuits filed. The current system brings wealth to individual attorneys while costing the state jobs and economic growth. The “stop shakedown lawsuits” initiative attempts to support improved environmental standards while slowing the proliferation of frivolous lawsuits and allowing our small businessmen to concentrate on growing their businesses. Please, let common sense prevail.

Edward L. Callahan

Playa del Rey

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger files lawsuits to protect his brand image faster than Mickey Mouse. But he’s against community environmental groups suing commercial polluters to protect our fields and streams. By aiding and abetting the California Chamber of Commerce’s selfish ballot initiative that would prevent lawsuits by environmental, consumer and civil rights groups against corporations, Schwarzenegger shows he’d rather protect profits than people.

California’s Unfair Business Competition Law (enacted in 1933) helps public-interest groups stop dangerous corporate practices before people and natural places get hurt. But some of the state’s largest moneymakers are financing a plot against this law.

Evelyn O’Riordan

Sonoma, Calif.