Uber-backed ballot measure sends California trial lawyers into campaign mode

Uber-backed ballot measure in California aims to curb plaintiff-friendly legal fees in car-crash cases, proposing that plaintiffs receive about 75% of recoveries while limiting attorney and doctor payouts. The move has spurred a heated, well-funded clash between Uber supporters and the plaintiffs’ bar, each side raising over $70 million and collecting more than a million signatures to push their measures. Supporters say the reform protects consumers from self-serving lawyers; opponents fear reduced access to justice if fees are capped. The CAOC’s counterproposal would require stricter background checks for drivers, including fingerprinting, and hold rideshare companies to higher liability standards, potentially reclassifying Uber as a common carrier. The campaign landscape features high-profile ads and rapid mobilization as voters prepare for November.