HomeMy WebLinkAbout85-148RESOLUTION NO. 85-148
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA ANA ENDORSING
~HE "FAIR RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1986"
WHEREAS, the present joint and several liability law, also known as the
"Deep Pocket Doctrine", has unfairly cost the cities of California millions of
dollars in court judgments, settlements, legal costs, skyrocketing insurance
premiums and difficulty in obtaining adequate liability insurance coverage; and
WHEREAS, this same doctrine has also cost other governmental bodies,
business firms and professionals many millions of dollars; and
WHEREAS, the cost of liability insurance to the City of Santa Ana has
increased from .17 percent of the ~eneral fund budget in 1983 to one percent of
the general fund budget in 1985; and
~EREAS, ultimately this cost is unfairly borne by the taxpayers and
consumers of California; and
WHEREAS, many cities, other governmental bodies, business firms and
professionals are selected as defendants in lawsuits merely because of their
perceived assets or insurance and often are found only fractionally at fault but
must pay most or all of the judgment because the defendants most at fault cannot
pay; and
W/~EREAS, the "Fair Responsibility Act of 1986" is an initiative measure
that would give the voters of California an opportunity to reform the inequities
and injustices of the "Deep Pocket Doctrine" by holding liability lawsuit
defendants financially liable in closer proportion to their degree of fault.
RESOLUTION NO.
PAGE TWO
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Santa Ana endorses the
"Fair Responsibility Act of 1986" to relieve the financial strain imposed on
local government and its taxpayers.
2nd day of December
, 1985. ~
Daniel E. Griset
Mayor
Griset A~e
Johnson A~e
Acosta A~e
Hart A e
Luxembourger ~
McGuigan Aye
Young A~e
~wa]r d ~Coo~r
City At t o~i~'