Contact: 
Adrienne ("Andy") Kotner
President 
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse 
1761 Hotel Circle South, Suite 120 
San Diego, California 92108-3318 
Tel: (619) 295-6059
Fax: (619) 295-6710
E-mail: sdcala@adnc.com

SAN DIEGO – San Diego County Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) presents this year’s nominations for "The Golden Glob" Awards for bestowing dishonor on our judicial system through the most egregious acts of lawsuit abuse. These examples of the personal injury lawyers’ litigation sideshow are worthy of the Hall of Shame. San Diego CALA wants to lift the curtain to shine the spotlight on their song and dance.

"Again and again, we see the harm that lawsuit abuse has caused. We’re tired of personal injury lawyers getting a second act. It’s time we boo them off the stage," declared Andy Kotner, President of San Diego CALA. "We encourage all Californians to visit www.cala.com and vote for the Golden Glob that you think would make Hollywood blush."

So roll out the red carpet! The nominees are…

Best Healthcare Drama

In a dramatic story of greed and loss that would make Meryl Streep look like a comedian, a Mississippi woman sued the maker of her heartburn medicine, not because she was harmed by the drug, but because she thought she "might get a couple of thousand dollars." Her lawyers included her doctor in the suit in order to keep the case in plaintiff-friendly Mississippi, causing her doctor to flee the state’s legal hotbed. She said, "I do not want him leaving because of all the suits. If we run off all the doctors, what are the people gonna do?" Clarion Ledger, July 29, 2002.

Best Actors

In a very convincing portrayal of people born without personal responsibility, two teenagers are suing McDonald’s, blaming their favorite fast food restaurant for their obesity. The girls – weighing in at a combined total of 440 pounds – claimed they did not know that three fast food meals a day would add to their girth. New York Times, November 21, 2002.

Best Performance of Justice

In a story of tragedy over triumph, showing that justice can truly be served, a Texas lawyer was fined $50,000 for filing a frivolous lawsuit. The lawyer claimed that his client was harmed by a drug that had never actually been prescribed to him. This drama was played out against the backdrop of a Texas town where the offending lawyer tries to solicit clients with a billboard strategically positioned in front of the local children’s hospital. Corpus Christi Caller-Times, August 26, 2002.

Best Use of Comedy in a Lawsuit

In a cutting-edge comedy that demands a Golden Glob nomination: A Montana man who legally changed his name to Jack Ass, claims that Jackass, the MTV show that highlights youngsters performing ridiculous stunts, defamed his name. Mr. Ass, who took on the new moniker to raise awareness of drunk driving, is suing Viacom for $10 million. The New Yorker, January 6, 2003.

Best Performance by a Healthy Plaintiff

With an applause-worthy performance, five co-plaintiffs sued three companies for asbestos exposure. The men, who never spent a dime on medical costs or missed a day of work due to illness, won $25 million apiece. One plaintiff, who suffers from "asbestos-related conditions," testified in his deposition that he still jogs – at age 65. Fortune, March 4, 2002.

Best Special Effects

And, for best special effects, we nominate a classic – and scary – case of questionable science. Personal injury lawyers are filing lawsuits against the maker of thimerosal, a vaccine preservative that contains mercury, blaming the compound for their clients’ autism. Repeated studies have found no link between vaccines and autism, but the lawyers are suing anyway. With a single class action that is worth billions more than the value of the entire industry, there’s a chance these suits could put this low-profit industry out of business. If this industry suffers, the harm could be substantial: we could see significant vaccine shortages and potentially deadly diseases could re-emerge. Forbes, May 13, 2002; Business Week, January 13, 2003.

"Don’t be a part of the audience that sits back and watches lawsuit abuse, without trying to stop it. Log onto www.cala.com and cast your vote to help put an end to the personal injury lawyers’ act," encouraged Kotner.