Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse says trial lawyers manipulate public nuisance laws to undermine oversight

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) announced on X that trial lawyers are allegedly misusing public nuisance laws to target lawful products through secretive agreements with governments, posing risks to consumers.

According to CALA's August 21 post on X, trial lawyers are now applying public nuisance law to everyday, legally sold products, such as cars, pharmaceuticals, and energy sources, in an effort to secure high-value settlements. The organization asserts this represents a departure from the traditional use of public nuisance law, which historically focused on stopping harmful conduct rather than extracting damages. The group emphasizes that these hidden legal maneuvers bypass democratic oversight and expose consumers to unnecessary risks.

A Wall Street Journal editorial warns that trial lawyers are wielding public nuisance litigation as a tool against manufacturers of guns, pain medications, fossil fuels, and vehicles despite these products being legally produced and regulated. These lawsuits frequently end in opaque settlements brokered between private firms and state attorneys general, with little public or legislative input. According to the Journal, this cultivated approach effectively circumvents democratic accountability and allows significant financial penalties to be imposed under the guise of public interest.

A 2024 analysis in City Journal (published by the Manhattan Institute) outlines how modern public nuisance lawsuits often operate as joint ventures between government prosecutors and private injury firms. In these cases, the latter drive discovery, motion practice, and case strategy under contingency-fee contracts. This arrangement shifts the pursuit of public policy from democratic institutions to profit-motivated private attorneys. The report argues this structure incentivizes litigation over legislation and compromises both transparency and rule-of-law norms.

According to its official website, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse is a grassroots, nonpartisan advocacy group focused on educating the public about the financial and legal perils of lawsuit abuse, including manipulative litigation strategies. The group champions transparency, accountability, and fairness in the civil justice system while advocating reforms that safeguard consumers, small businesses, and taxpayers from predatory legal practices. CALA collaborates with communities, policymakers, and legal experts to uphold integrity and balance within the legal system.