SB 1149 is Jointly Sponsored by Consumer Reports and Public JusticeSACRAMENTO – Upholding the ability of Californians to find out the facts about dangerous public hazards that are discovered during litigation, the Senate Judiciary Committee today approved Senate Bill 1149 authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino). Even in a dispute between private parties, a court’s resolution of that dispute is a matter of public interest. This is especially true when a case involves a public danger, such as a defective product or environmental hazard. But in 2004, when the first case—West Virginia’s claims against Purdue Pharma—was settled, the judge allowed the information proving those claims to remain secret. [3]If SB 1149 is signed into law, California would join several other states that have enacted similar anti-secrecy laws, including Florida, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, and Washington.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 07, 2022 03:42 UTC