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RESOLUTION NO. 59-86
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF THE
TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS ENDORSING THE "FAIR
RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1986" PROPOSITION 51. . -
INITIATIVE MEASURE
RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of the Town of Los
Altos Hills, County of Santa Clara, State of California, that
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 ob-
taining 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, ultimately this cost is unfairly borne by the taxpay-
ers and consumers of California; and
WHEREAS, many cities., other governmental bodies, business firms
and professionals are selected as defendants in lawsuits merely be-
cause of their perceived assets or insurance and ofter are found
•
only fractionally at fault but must pay -most or all of the judgment
because the defendants most at fault cannot pay; and
WHEREAS, the cost of this is unfairly borne by the taxpayers
and consumers of California; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 51 on the June 3 , 1986 ballot, 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;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of
the City of the Town of Los Altos Hills does hereby endorse Propo-
sition 51 and urges its support and passage to relieve the financial
strain imposed on local government and its taxpayers .
REGULARLY passed and adopted this 7th day of May, 1986 .
BY /
MAYOR
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK
Reso. #59/86 - page 2
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