State briefing · CACalifornia: Lawsuit-Abuse Reform
California: Lawsuit-Abuse Reform
and Consumer Cost
PAGA, Prop 65, and ADA-access shakedowns — plus municipal settlement costs devouring city budgets.
Documented fraud & abuse25 PACT reports attributed to California
Documented fraud & abuseCalifornia
California's legal system rewards predatory and fraudulent behavior — and the bill lands on households, cities, and small businesses.
$287M
LA paid in settlements in a single year — after budgeting just $87M
$200M
The gap that could have gone to roads, parks, and services
1-in-5
Californians who have hired a personal-injury attorney
62%
Of those, who now favor reforming California's legal system
PACT coverage
Reporting and analysis attributed to California
News & analysis
21- July 17, 2026LA County's $4 Billion Settlement Is Under Fraud Investigation, and the District Attorney Is Sounding the AlarmLA County’s $4 Billion Settlement Is Under Fraud Investigation, and the District Attorney Is Sounding the AlarmRead
- July 13, 2026The Cowboy Was a Con: How Downtown LA Law Group's Fraud Playbook Followed Real Victims to Val VerdeWhen a man in a cowboy hat and leather chaps began approaching residents of Val Verde, California, nobody recognized him. That was by design. The Los Angeles Times has the story.Read
- July 1, 2026More California Counties Are Calling for Lawsuit ReformWhen a county administrator takes the floor to advocate for legal reform, policymakers should pay attention. At a recent Glenn County Board of Supervisors meeting, County Administrative Officer Scott Damas cut through the noise and made…Read
- June 26, 2026When “Consumer Protection” Becomes a Billing Bonanza: Ford Exposes a $100 Million Lemon Law Fraud SchemeA new federal lawsuit filed by Ford Motor Company against Los Angeles-based lemon law firm Quill & Arrow pulls back the curtain on a scheme that should alarm anyone who cares about the integrity of consumer protection law. According to…Read
- June 18, 2026In San Diego, Personal Injury Lawyers Are "Taking Resources From Other City Services"The city of San Diego is sounding the alarm, and the numbers are striking. Yesterday, Angela Colton, the city’s Risk Department Manager, presented data showing that liability costs have grown at what she described as an “exponential and…Read
- June 12, 2026When the System Designed to Deliver Justice Becomes the Fraud: The $4 Billion Sex Abuse Scandal Consuming Los AngelesLos Angeles County is now at the center of what may be one of the most consequential legal fraud investigations in American history. The Los Angeles Times had more:Read
- April 27, 2026Serial ADA Lawsuits Are Shaking Down Southern California's Small BusinessesA new investigation by the Los Angeles Times reveals how a single plaintiff has filed more than 1,800 ADA lawsuits against small businesses across Southern California, part of a broader pattern driven by a small group of repeat filers.…Read
- April 3, 2026Report: California’s ‘Lawsuit Abuse’ Problem Is Costing the State $101.2 Billion in Economic Output and More Than 850,000 Jobs AnnuallyCalifornia has a lawsuit abuse problem, and a new report puts a staggering price tag on it.Read
- March 17, 2026PACT Polling Summary — Lawsuit Reform & Cost of LivingOver the course of ten polls conducted between February 2025 and February 2026, Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT) has assembled one of the most comprehensive and consistent bodies of public opinion research on lawsuit reform…Read
- March 11, 2026California City Manager Warns Rising Liability Costs Are UnsustainableCities across California are increasingly warning that rising litigation costs are putting serious pressure on municipal budgets. In Fairfield, California, city officials say liability insurance, coverage that helps governments pay legal…Read
- March 5, 2026Los Angeles’ Lawsuit Costs Are Blowing Past Budget: LA Controller Annual ReportLos Angeles is facing mounting fiscal pressure as liability payouts continue to surge beyond expectations, according to the city’s FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.Read
- February 13, 2026California City Manager: CA Cities Directly Impacted By Rising Costs Associated With Lawsuit AbuseFamilies across the country are struggling with rising living costs that are usually blamed on inflation or housing, but a major and often overlooked driver is lawsuit abuse. Earlier this week, Cotati, CA City Manager Damien O’Bird…Read
Press releases
4- December 17, 2025PACT Debuts New Six-Figure Ad Campaign in California Advocating for Lawsuit Abuse ReformCalifornia Cities, Families Particularly Hard-Hit by Lawsuit AbuseRead
- June 12, 2025New Poll: Bipartisan Majority Of California Voters Want Action On Lawsuit Abuse ReformMost striking, of the California voters who have hired a personal injury attorney, a majority support reforming the system. 1-in-5 Californians have hired a personal injury attorney, and 62% of those are in favor of reforming California’s…Read
- April 24, 2025New Study: California Households Pay Over $8,000 A Year Due To Lawsuit AbuseThe Perryman Group Study Estimates California Families Lose $8,306 Annually to Excessive Litigation; LA City Administrator has Warned City Services at Risk as Lawsuit Costs EscalateRead
- March 21, 2025PACT Launches California Consumer Education CampaignInitial Efforts Aimed at Empowering Victims of Personal Injury AttorneysRead
Background
Read the explainers behind PACT's reform positions
Consumers at Risk
How lawsuit abuse, third-party litigation funding, and legal-advertising excess raise the cost of everyday goods.
OpenState Reform Map
National scorecard of tort-reform progress and documented fraud hot spots across all 50 states.
OpenThe New York Lawsuit System
Deep dive on staged accidents, medical mills, and no-fault fraud — the anatomy of the country's most exploited insurance market.
OpenPACT Research
Original polling, cost studies, and litigation-finance analyses underpinning PACT's reform positions.
OpenPolling Results
Voter attitudes on lawsuit abuse, tort reform, and legal-system transparency across battleground states.
OpenLatest News & Analysis
Reverse-chronological feed of PACT reporting on legal-system reform, fraud enforcement, and insurance-cost impact.
OpenOther documented hot spots