HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 6514• •
RESOLUTION No. 6514
A RESOLUTION IF THE COUNCIL CF THE CITY CF PALO AL TO
ENDORSING PROPOSITION 151: THE FAIR RESPONSIBILilY
ACT OF 1986
ORIGINAL
WHEREAS. the present court-adopted doctrfne of •jotnt and several lf abfl-
ft;y• operates as a •0eep Pocket Doctrine.• and has 111fafrly cost the tax~ers
and cons1111ers of Calffornf& llf111ons of dOllars 1n court judgements, settle-
11ents, legal costs, skyrocketing insurance premiums and dtfffculty fn obta1nfng
adequate liabflf ty insurance coverage; and
WHEREAS, uny cities, other governmental bodies, business ffr11s and
professionals are selected as defendants in lawsuits •rely because of their
perceived assets or insurance and often are found only fractionally at f3ult
b11t 11Ust pay most or al 1 of the judge•nt because the defendants lftOSt at fault
cannot pay; and
WHEREAS, ultfutely thf s cost is 1.11fafrly borne by the taxpayers and
conswaers of California; and
WHEREAS, the •Fair Responsfbflfty kt of 1986• 1s an initiative 1111eastre
that wout d g; ve the voters of Calf forni a an oppo.-wn 11;,Y to refGrrA the f nequf-
t1 es and fnjustfces of this •oeep Pocket Doctrfne• by hotdfng 1f abf1f1;y lawsuit
defendants ffnancf ally l111>le fn closer proportion to thefr degree of actual
fault; and
WHEREAS. the Council of the Cfty of Palo Alto previously voted its support
for the Faf r Responsfbflfty Act of 1986 when the fnftfatfve petitions .ere
being circulated; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of ttl\e Cf1;y of Palo Alto endorses the •Fair
ResponsfbiHty Act of 1986• and arges its support and passage to relieve the
· ffnan:fal strain imposed on local govenaent and its taxpayers.
INTRODUCED NJD PASSED: April 28, 1986
AYES: Bechtel, Cobb. Fletcher, Levy, Patitucci .. Renzel, Sutorius, Woolley
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSEtlT K 1 e i n