Nick Rowley has been named to Capitol Weekly’s Top 100, a recognition that reflects not just professional success, but lasting impact on California law and public policy.

The annual Top 100 list highlights individuals who shape the state’s political and policy landscape in meaningful ways. Rowley’s inclusion underscores a career defined by strategic litigation, accountability, and a willingness to challenge entrenched systems when the stakes are high.

One of the most significant factors behind this recognition was Rowley’s role in the long-running fight to reform the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA). For decades, MICRA imposed a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, a limit that failed to reflect the true cost of catastrophic injuries suffered by patients and families.

While previous reform efforts repeatedly stalled, this time was different. Rowley helped drive a ballot initiative that fundamentally changed the negotiating dynamics. By creating real electoral pressure, the issue moved from political deadlock to actionable compromise. The result was a modernized framework that raised outdated caps and acknowledged the realities of medical harm in today’s economy.

What makes this outcome notable is not just the policy change itself, but how it was achieved. The strategy blended courtroom advocacy with public accountability, demonstrating how trial lawyers can influence systems far beyond individual cases. It was a reminder that meaningful reform often requires both legal precision and the courage to apply pressure where it counts.

For Trial Lawyers for Justice, this recognition reinforces a core principle: impact litigation is about more than verdicts. It is about restoring balance when laws no longer serve the people they were meant to protect. The MICRA reform effort stands as a clear example of how persistence, preparation, and principled advocacy can reshape long-standing policy.

Why This Matters

Reforming outdated damage caps directly affects access to justice for patients harmed by medical negligence. Raising those limits restores fairness, recognizes real human costs, and ensures accountability keeps pace with modern realities.

Source Note

This recognition was originally reported by Capitol Weekly.

Consumer Alert
This warning is issued to California voters regarding a proposed Uber-backed ballot initiative that could limit the rights of people injured by negligent or reckless conduct.

What This Alert Is About

Uber is once again asking the public to trust it with safety, accountability, and the future of transportation.

At the same time, Uber is circulating a ballot measure in California that would significantly reduce the rights of people injured in accidents to recover full medical costs and to hire an attorney on a contingency fee basis.

That combination should concern every voter.

What Happened Before

There is real video footage of an Uber self-driving vehicle killing a pedestrian in Arizona. This was not a hypothetical risk or a near miss. A person lost their life.

That incident is a reminder that new technology, especially autonomous vehicles, carries real and serious dangers when deployed without proper safeguards and accountability.

What Uber Is Planning Now

Uber has made clear that it plans to bring back self-driving cars and robo-taxis, beginning in the Bay Area in 2026 and expanding from there.

At the same time, the company is asking voters to sign a petition that would weaken legal protections for people harmed by negligent or reckless behavior.

The timing is not accidental.

What the Ballot Measure Would Do

If passed, Uber’s proposed ballot measure would:

• Limit the ability of injured people to recover full medical costs

• Make it harder for accident victims to hire attorneys on a contingency fee basis

• Reduce legal accountability for corporations and reckless drivers

In plain terms, it would shift risk away from powerful companies and onto the people they injure.

Why This Matters

Access to medical care and access to the courts are not technical details. They are core protections that exist to hold corporations accountable when people are hurt.

This measure is being marketed as reform. In reality, it would function as a shield for corporations preparing to deploy risky technology while limiting the public’s ability to seek justice when something goes wrong.

Consumer advocates have rightly warned that this kind of measure creates a future where companies can act recklessly with reduced consequences.

That is why many are calling it what it is: a license to kill.

A Short Explainer on What’s at Stake

Consumer Watchdog has released a short explainer video outlining the risks posed by Uber’s proposed ballot measure and why it matters for California voters.

The video explains how Uber is preparing to bring back self-driving cars and robo-taxis while simultaneously supporting a ballot initiative that would limit the rights of people injured by negligent or reckless conduct.

Watch the explainer video here

This explainer provides essential context for understanding how this ballot measure could affect your access to medical recovery and legal representation if you or a loved one is harmed.

What Voters Should Do

If you are asked to sign this petition:

• Stop

• Do not rely on talking points or clipboards

• Read the official, non-partisan title and summary prepared by the California Attorney General

Once legal rights are signed away, restoring them is extraordinarily difficult.

A Final Word

No company should be allowed to experiment with public safety while simultaneously cutting off the public’s right to accountability.

Don’t sign away your rights.
Don’t sign Uber’s ballot measure.
And don’t confuse innovation with immunity.

This consumer alert is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.