Daily Journal | May 20, 2026
A proposed California ballot initiative backed by Uber is drawing serious concern from trial lawyers, consumer advocates, and access-to-justice organizations.
In a recent Daily Journal column, Trial Lawyers for Justice founder Nicholas Rowley and attorney Arash Homampour warned that Initiative 25-0022A1 could dramatically weaken California’s contingency fee system and make it harder for injured people to find lawyers willing to take complex, high-risk cases. The article argues that the measure would benefit corporate defendants and insurers while limiting the ability of injured Californians to pursue full accountability after serious vehicle-related injuries.
The California Attorney General’s official title and summary states that the proposed constitutional amendment would limit attorney fees in automobile accident cases so victims retain at least 75% of their monetary recovery, while also noting that it does not restrict fee arrangements for defendants’ attorneys. The summary also states that the measure would increase the burden of proof and limit recovery for certain medical expenses, and could increase Medi-Cal costs by millions to tens of millions of dollars annually.
Why This Matters
The contingency fee system allows people who cannot afford hourly legal fees to pursue justice against powerful corporations, insurance companies, and institutions.
Without contingency fees, many injured people would be priced out of the courthouse before their case even begins. Complex injury cases often require years of work, expert witnesses, medical analysis, depositions, trial preparation, and substantial litigation costs. Lawyers who take those cases on contingency assume the risk of receiving nothing if the case is unsuccessful.
That risk-based model is what gives ordinary people access to legal representation when they are up against billion-dollar companies and insurance defense teams.
What Is at Stake
If Initiative 25-0022A1 passes, the legal playing field could become even more unequal.
According to the Attorney General’s summary, the measure would limit plaintiffs’ contingency fee arrangements, but would not place similar limits on what defendants may pay their attorneys. That means corporations and insurance companies could continue spending heavily to fight claims, while injured people may face new restrictions on the representation available to them.
For people with catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, amputations, paralysis, severe disfigurement, or lifelong medical needs, these cases are often the hardest and most expensive to pursue. If the financial risk becomes too high and the ability to recover fees is constitutionally restricted, fewer lawyers may be able to take those cases.
TL4J’s Position
Trial Lawyers for Justice believes access to the courts should not depend on a person’s bank account.
The civil justice system exists so ordinary people can hold wrongdoers accountable, including corporations with vast financial resources. When that system is weakened, the burden does not disappear. It shifts to families, public hospitals, safety-net systems, and taxpayers.
The fight over Initiative 25-0022A1 is not just about attorney fees. It is about whether injured people can still find strong legal representation when they need it most.
Media Coverage
Daily Journal: “Protect access to justice and be munificent”
The column by Arash Homampour and Nicholas Rowley argues that Uber’s proposed initiative would undermine California’s contingency fee system and restrict access to justice for injured victims. TL4J’s takeaway: the plaintiffs’ bar must treat this as a major access-to-justice fight, not a narrow fee dispute.
California Attorney General: Official Title and Summary for Initiative 25-0022A1
The official summary states that the measure would limit the fees plaintiffs’ attorneys may receive in automobile accident cases, increase the burden of proof, and limit recovery for certain medical expenses, and that it does not restrict defense attorney fee arrangements. TL4J’s takeaway: the official summary confirms the imbalance at the center of the debate.
Current Status
Initiative 25-0022A1 has received an official title and summary from the California Attorney General. TL4J will continue to monitor developments and share updates on efforts to protect access to justice for injured Californians.