HomeMy WebLinkAboutCJPIA Coalition Letter to Protect Community Services - Tort Reform - City of SLO SupportCOALITION TO PROTECT COMMUNITY SERVICES | California JPIA
Establish Proportionate Liability
for Local Governments
Under California's joint and several liability rule, a city found just 1% at fault can be forced to pay
100% of a plaintiff's economic damages—when the other responsible co-defendants can't pay. Every
dollar consumed by disproportionate liability judgments and inflated settlements is a dollar unavailable
for community services that our residents rely on: police and fire protection, roads and infrastructure
maintenance, parks, libraries, senior services and youth sports programs.
Establishing proportionate liability means that local governments named in lawsuits would be required
to pay only their actual share of fault, as determined by the court. Not only is this more fair, but it would
help to solve a rapidly escalating problem—a fiscal crisis of runaway liability costs for cities and other
local government agencies that have limited taxpayer funding to provide much needed public services.
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COALITION TO PROTECT COMMUNITY SERVICES | California JPIA
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COALITION TO PROTECT COMMUNITY SERVICES | California JPIA
July 16, 2026
To Members of the Legislature:
On behalf of the Coalition to Protect Community Services, we write to express our
strong support for meaningful tort reform in civil actions against public entities,
consistent with the priorities of other local government organizations statewide.
Specifically, we support:
●Proportionate (several) liability for economic damages in civil actions against
public entities, so that taxpayers pay only for the share of harm attributable to the
public agency.
●Caps on damages in civil actions against public entities, ensuring that injured
parties are fairly compensated, while also preserving the capacity to deliver
essential public services.
Local governments across California are facing a growing liability crisis. In many cases,
it is not a result of agencies improperly delivering services or mismanaging risk—but
because the current legal framework systematically exposes public entities to liability far
beyond their actual share of responsibility.
For cities and special districts, rising settlements and liability costs pose an existential
threat to the services we provide. Multi-million dollar claims against local agencies—
arising from public roadways, sidewalks, public property, and routine government
services—have increased sharply, and the rising costs are unsustainable. Insurance
premiums paid by local agencies have grown 370%, climbing from $115 million in 2016
to $541 million in 2025. And since 2019, public entity liability costs have more than
tripled, now exceeding $7 billion in known exposure.
When a local government agency faces a liability judgment, the cost is borne collectively
by liability risk pools—meaning it is ultimately funded by the taxpayers of every
member community across California—or directly by the local agency if it is not a
member of a risk pool. Dollars spent defending and paying out lawsuits are dollars
diverted from public safety, road maintenance, parks, and the core local services these
agencies exist to provide.
We stand ready to work with the Legislature, the Administration, and all involved
stakeholders to craft a practical and meaningful solution to this growing problem.
Can we count on your support
to help safeguard essential public services?
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COALITION TO PROTECT COMMUNITY SERVICES | California JPIA
COALITION MEMBERS — as of July 16, 2026
1.California Contract Cities Association 29. City of National City
2.California Joint Powers Insurance Authority 30. City of Needles
3.City of Alhambra 31. City of Norwalk
4.City of Arcadia 32. City of Palos Verdes Estates
5.City of Artesia 33. City of Paramount
6.City of Atascadero 34. City of Pismo Beach
7.City of Azusa 35. City of San Clemente
8.City of Bakersfield 36. City of San Luis Obispo
9.City of Barstow 37. City of San Marcos
10.City of Bellflower 38. City of Santa Paula
11.City of Blythe 39.City of Signal Hill
12.City of Camarillo 40.City of Solvang
13.City of Carson 41.City of Temple City
14.City of Diamond Bar 42.City of West Covina
15.City of Duarte 43.City of Wildomar
16.City of Fontana 44. Eastern Sierra Transit Authority
17.City of Fountain Valley 45.Foothill Transit
18.City of Goleta 46. Public Agency Risk Management
19.City of Hawaiian Gardens Association
20.City of La Mirada 47. Rossmoor Community Services District
21.City of La Palma 48. Town of Apple Valley
22.City of La Puente
23.City of La Quinta
24.City of La Verne
25.City of Lake Forest
26.City of Lakewood
27.City of Lomita
28.City of Monrovia
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