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Via Email Only to
AssemblyMember.muratsuchi@assembly.ca.gov
and AssemblyMember.chiu@assemby.ca.gov

March 27, 2017

Honorable Assembly Member Al Muratsuchi
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, California 94249-0066

Honorable Assembly Member David Chiu
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, California 94249-0017

Re: AB 1517 (Muratsuchi/Chiu) – SUPPORT AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED

Dear Assembly Members Muratsuchi and Chiu:

The Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA) understands that AB 1517 will be amended so that it identical to the amended version of AB 2178 that was discussed in the attached May 25, 2016, letter to Assembly Member David Chiu. PIABA continues in its belief that AB 2178, as amended by the amendments incorporated into the attached letter and referenced below, would have provided meaningful protections to the investing public. In view of those meaningful protections, if AB 1517 is amended so that it is identical to the amended version of AB 2178 that was the subject of PIABA’s attached May 25, 2016, letter, PIABA will support AB 1517.

Sincerely,

Marnie C. Lambert, PIABA President
Lambert Law Firm, LLC
4889 Sawmill Road, Suite 125
Columbus, Ohio 43235
Telephone: (614) 504-8803
Email: Mlambert@mclinvestlaw.com

Attachment: Letter from PIABA to Hon. Assembly Member David Chiu dated May 25, 2016, with AB 2178 Amendments to Assembly Bill No. 2178 042916 – SMFC067691160502083200.pdf

cc: Brian Duke
Office of Assembly Member Al Muratsuchi
Via Email Only to Brian.Duke@asm.ca.gov

Kevin Hefner
Office of Assembly Member David Chiu
Via Email Only to Kevin.Hefner@asm.ca.gov

Scot Bernstein
Via Email Only to swampadero@sbernsteinlaw.com

Lori Kammerer
Via Email Only to lck@midtown.net

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May 25, 2016

Via Email Only to
assemblymember.Chiu@assembly.ca.gov

Honorable Assembly Member David Chiu
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, California 94249-0017

Re: AB 2178 (Chiu) –SUPPORT AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED AND REMOVING OPPOSITION

Dear Assembly Member Chiu:

The Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA) believes that the attached proposed amendments to AB 2178 provide meaningful protections to the investing public. In view of those protections, PIABA supports AB 2178 (Chiu) as proposed to be amended and removes its opposition to the bill.

Sincerely,
Hugh D. Berkson, PIABA President

cc: Luke Reidenbach
Assembly Committee on Appropriations
Via Email Only to Luke.Reidenbach@asm.ca.gov

Eric Guerra
Office of Assemblymember David Chiu
Via Email Only to Eric.Guerra@asm.ca.gov

Scot Bernstein
Via Email Only swampadero@sbernsteinlaw.com

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AMENDMENTS TO ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 2178
AS AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 18,2016

Amendment 1
On page 24, between lines 18 and 19, insert:
(Q) The applicant shall not require or impose an obligation on any investor or potential investor (i) to arbitrate any claim or dispute under this section, (ii) to waive his or her right to file or participate in a class action involving any claim or dispute under this section, (iii) to waive his or her right to a jury trial, (iv) to be bound by or subject to any law other than California law, (v) to file or resolve any claim or dispute in any forum other than California, or (vi) to be subject to any other provisions designed to limit or eliminate investor rights or remedies.

Amendment 2
On page 24, in line 20, strike out “(Q)” and insert:
(R)

Amendment 3
On page 25, in line 13, strike out “security.” and insert:
security, and shall recover reasonable attorney’s fees determined by the court.

Amendment 4
On page 25, in line 17, strike out “security.” and insert:
security, and shall recover reasonable attorney’s fees determined by the court.

Amendment 5
On page 25, in line 20, after “purchase” insert:
plus reasonable attorney’s fees determined by the court,

Amendment 6
On page 25, in line 26, after “security” insert:
plus reasonable attorney’s fees as determined by the court,

Amendment 7
On page 25, in line 29, after the period insert:
In any case in which damages are awarded under this section and a person is found to have willfully violated Section 25401, the court may, in its discretion, award three times the damages, excluding attorney’s fees, determined as set forth above, and award punitive damages in addition to those treble damages.

Amendment 8
On page 25, in line 39, after the comma insert:
and reasonable attorney’s fees determined by the court,

Amendment 9
On page 26, in line 5, after “purchase” insert:
plus reasonable attorney’s fees determined by the court,

Amendment 10
On page 26, in line 12, strike out “tendered;” and insert:
tendered plus reasonable attorney’s fees determined by the court;

Amendment 11
On page 26, in line 15, after “purchase” insert:
plus reasonable attorney’s fees determined by the court,

Amendment 12
On page 26, in line 25, strike out “purchase.” and insert:
purchase plus reasonable attorney’s fees determined by the court.

Amendment 13
On page 27, in lines 3 and 4, strike out “shall award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, and,” and insert:
may,

Amendment 14
On page 27, in line 4, strike out “may”

Amendment 15
On page 27, in line 4, strike out “treble and” and insert:
three times the damages, excluding attorney’s fees, determined as set forth above, and award

Amendment 16
On page 27, in line 5, strike out “to a prevailing purchaser in an action brought”