FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Linda Okun
PHONE: (626) 824-8927
October 28, 2003
With the help of hundreds of people who logged
on to cast their votes for the most outrageous lawsuit of 2003,
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) today announced the winner
of its historic online “Lawsuit Recall” election.
From a list of seven candidates, voters overwhelmingly
elected Candidate #6: “Chubby Cherubs,” involving
three teenagers in New York City who filed a class-action lawsuit
against McDonald's Corp., saying the fast food chain's food caused
them to gain as much as 200 pounds and develop serious health
problems related to being overweight.
“California’s recall madness is
over, but the insanity that exists in our civil justice system
isn’t,” said Linda Okun, CALA executive director.
"We wanted to do something fun around the recall, but the
issue of lawsuit abuse is definitely no laughing matter. When
people abuse our legal system, all the rest of us lose.”
Okun added the “winner” is an example
of a mockery of the needs of all consumers who deserve to live
under a fair and balanced civil justice system and that frivolous
lawsuits waste court’s time, cost taxpayers money, and delay
justice for people with legitimate claims
CALA launched its “Recall Lawsuit”
election as part of its observance of Lawsuit Abuse Awareness
Week, which is recognized nationally from October 6-10, and to
address the critical issue of frivolous lawsuits that take up
court time, a judge's time, and tax dollars.
“Our lawsuit-recall election is no quick
fix for a system that is clearly spiraling out of control,”
said Ms. Okun. “We encourage every citizen in this great
state to stand up and fight against abusive lawsuits and join
in the effort to help rescue California.”
For more information on these issues, please contact Los Angeles
CALA at (626) 824-8927 or maryann@maryannmaloney.com
.
Linda Okun is the Executive Director of Citizens
against Lawsuit Abuse in Los Angeles, a nonprofit, grassroots
public education organization. Write to her c/o CALA at P.O. Box
262 - Glendora, CA 91740, or via email at maryann@maryannmaloney.com.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you would like a CALA
speaker to address your organization or some information for your
organization's newsletter, let us know today.
CALA is a nonprofit, grass roots, public education
organization dedicated to serving as a watchdog over the legal
system and those who would seek to abuse it for undeserved gain.
More than 9,000 citizens and taxpayers are Los Angeles CALA supporters.
