Best-Selling Author, Joseph Wambaugh, Speaks Out Against Lawsuit Abuse

CALA Names Three High School Students Winners in Essay/Scholarship Contest

SAN DIEGO, CA –     San Diego County Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse featured Award-Winning, Best-Selling author, Joseph Wambaugh, as keynote speaker at the 2005 CALA Essay/Scholarship Luncheon. Wambaugh, who has been the victim of several abusive lawsuits, called for “loser pays” legislation to stop frivolous lawsuits.  “Curtailing litigation should be a nonpartisan issue.  We can’t do anything about contingency-fee lawsuits from indigent plaintiffs, but most plaintiffs do have assets that can and should be put at risk along with the defendants,” said Wambaugh to a group of 400 legal reformers who attended the  luncheon.  Other speakers were Parisima Roshanzamir, Miss City of San Diego, and David Warren Peters, Chairman of the Board, San Diego CALA.

CALA announced the winners of the group’s six annual Essay/Scholarship Contest, which asked high school students to address the topic: “Supersize It!  When Does Personal Responsibility End and a Lawsuit Begin?”

First place went to Mr. Kelly Loi, a junior at the Kearny Educational Complex, School of International Business (formerly known as Kearny High School).  He received a $1,000 CALA Scholarship for his essay, which stated, "…There is nothing new about these outrageous measures people resort to in the attempt to find legal loopholes to hold corporations responsible for people’s health. . . America is a free country and every single person has the ability to make their own choices . . . The responsibility between either a good or bad choice lies solely on the shoulders of the consumer.”

The second place winner was Lauren Murphy of Fallbrook High School, who received a $500 scholarship.  Bethany Graham of the Kearny Educational Complex, School of International Business won the third place scholarship in the amount of $250.

Certificates of Recognition for the CALA Scholars were authorized by the following elected officials:  Congressman Duncan Hunter,  Senators Denise Ducheny, Dennis Hollingsworth and Bill Morrow, Assemblymember Jay LaSuer, and County Supervisor Pam Slater Price.

“We were ecstatic about the number of entries we received, and how well thought out the essays were,” said Andy Kotner, President, of CALA.  “We hope that by participating in this essay contest, students are now more aware of the importance of personal responsibility and good health when it comes to food choices.  We want students to understand that lawsuit abuse costs everyone money and drives up the cost of products and taxes.” Kotner said.

All entries were judged on the following criteria: definition of lawsuit abuse; determination as to whether lawsuit abuse undermines principles of individual responsibility; how lawsuits affect our economy,  as well as, creativity, eloquence, and understanding of the topic.

Judges for the essay contest included: Professor Thomas Barton, California Western School of Law; State Senator Jim Battin; Superior Court Judge, Joseph P. Brannigan; United States Justice Department;

George Coles, President, Coles Carpets; U.S. Representative Susan Davis; Jim Edwards, Senior V.P. & General Counsel, Wireless Facilities, Inc.; Pete Fuentes, Investigative Reporter, Fox 6 News; David Geerdes, Heller Ehrman, LLP; Matthew Gleason, M.D.; Dan Hapke, Habitat for Humanity; El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis; San Diego Councilmember Jim Madaffer; San Diego Councilmember Brian Maienschein; Senator Bill Morrow;  Deputy District Attorney Wendy Patrick; San Diego Councilmember Scott Peters; Lloyd Rowland, V.P. & General Counsel, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater Price.

CALA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots, public education organization dedicated to serving as a watchdog over the legal system and those who would seek to abuse it for undeserved gain.  Nearly 10,000 San Diego residents are CALA supporters.

# # #