And the substantial legal defense expenses will figure in future insurance costs. California stands out among other states when it comes to litigation against school districts. I just shudder at the legal expense in some of these files. In California those cases are a dime a dozen. I think more than anything, it's just a different atmosphere.
Plaintiffs have a different mind-set.
Wrongful termination, discrimination, and sexual harassment are areas the study identified as sources of increasing litigation in many districts. Happily, a majority of districts reported that suits over faulty equipment, physical education, and sports programs declined over the 1995-98 period encompassed by the study. The study found some general factors driving liability claims against school districts. Risk managers reported an inverse relationship between a robust community and the volume of litigation. And some risk managers said they can trace many of their less meritorious cases to a small number of local attorneys, doctors, or chiropractors who actively encourage such suits.