(Sacramento)—Personal injury lawyers aren’t fooling consumers this April Fools Day. Over 60% of Americans think consumers and class members benefit least from class action lawsuits, while two-thirds believe lawyers benefit the most, according to a recent survey.

“89% of Americans think the legal system is in need of reform, so there’s no doubt that consumers are finally getting the joke. It’s time we stop this legal tomfoolery and take a careful look at who truly benefits from our civil justice system,” stated Diann Rogers, Executive Director of Central California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.

Two recent surveys show Americans are in agreement over one thing—there’s nothing funny about lawsuit abuse. Consider the following evidence:

According to a survey of 800 likely voters by the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA):

80% of registered voters feel that personal injury lawyers take too much of the money they win on behalf of plaintiffs. (ATRA’s National Poll on Tort Reform)

Nearly 60% of registered voters believe that lawsuits are hurting the economy and preventing the creation of new jobs. (ATRA’s National Poll on Tort Reform)

64% of registered voters are less likely to support a candidate for Congress if that candidate accepted contributions from personal injury lawyers and then voted against placing caps on the amount of money lawyers can charge their clients. (ATRA’s National Poll on Tort Reform)

According to a survey of 813 likely voters by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

74% of Americans think the class action system drives up prices. (U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Institute for Legal Reform Polling on the Class Action System National Results)

More than half of Americans who have participated in a class action lawsuit did not receive anything of value from being in the class. (U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Institute for Legal Reform Polling on the Class Action System National Results)

“These findings indicate that our nation has recognized the impact of lawsuit abuse and realizes it’s no laughing matter,” said Rogers. “When you remember that we all pay for lawsuit abuse, and we all lose, it’s not so funny anymore.”

To find the surveys in full, please visit www.atra.org and www.litigationfairness.org.

CALA is a nonprofit, grassroots organization dedicated to educating consumers on the human and financial costs incurred when the legal system is abused for greed, harassment or publicity. More than 4,500 Central California and Sacramento region residents are CALA supporters.