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No on Prop 64!

See our fact page for more links.

California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) gives Californians a highly effective tool for protecting themselves from public health dangers, environmental damage, and consumer fraud.

If passed, Proposition 64 would effectively eliminate the use of the UCL to protect public health and the environment. Prop 64 would block California citizens and organizations from taking action when they see companies illegally polluting the environment or deceiving consumers. Prop 64 was put on the ballot by corporate interests—not small businesses—who want to dismantle a powerful weapon for consumer and environmental groups to stop corporate crime.

Public interest lawsuits that Prop 64 would eliminate have:

• Protected children from lead poisoning in apartment buildings.
• Stopped Alta Dena Dairy’s misleading advertising campaign claiming that potentially dangerous raw milk products were safe and healthy.
• Stopped illegal dumping of cruise ship waste in California waters.
• Forced oil refiners to clean up groundwater contaminated by illegal discharges of MTBE.
• Stopped unlawful clear-cutting of a pristine Sierra forest containing 300 to 600 year old trees.
• Forced bottled water companies to stop selling bottled water containing illegal levels of arsenic and bacteria.

Prop 64 doesn’t “end frivolous lawsuits,” it attacks a good law.

• Prop 64 eliminates the right of public interest groups to bring legitimate suits to enforce environmental, consumer, privacy and public health laws under UCL—before people are hurt or seriously ill. These cases aren’t about money (no damages are possible), but injunctive relief to stop dangerous, illegal practices.
• Real solutions for stopping “shakedown” lawsuits—Attorney General notification of all UCL suits and settlements and judicial approval of settlements and attorneys’ fees—are pending in the legislature, but none are contained in Prop 64.

Prop 64 eliminates the public’s ability to prevent serious environmental and health threats.

• Prop 64 would require anyone bringing suit under UCL to have lost money or property, and meet class action requirements, eliminating cases brought to prevent cancer or birth defects that occur well after exposure to toxic chemicals.

Who Opposes Prop 64?

American Lung Association of California, Consumers Union, Sierra Club of California, California Nurses Association, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, AARP, California Church IMPACT, California National Organization for Women, Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Attorney General Bill Lockyer

What You Can Do

1. Protect the environment, public health, and consumer safety—Vote NO on Prop 64!
2. Tell your friends to vote NO on Prop 64 using our web form above.
3. Write a letter to the editor (see our sample letter and addresses) speaking out against Prop 64.