Malpractice lawsuits.

Re: The Comment column headlined "California's Winning Prescription" in the Sept. 21 issue:

The column makes a good point about California leading the way in reforming medical malpractice litigation and the inherent costs thereof that increase health care costs. However, I have read informed sources who state that such costs are believed to be less than 3 percent of the total costs of health care. If these estimates are true, eliminating all malpractice would not change the picture much.

I am not a lawyer, however, your statement "the Democratic Party is pretty much a wholly owned subsidiary of trial lawyers" is about the most ludicrous statement I have read in your paper. The executive branch of our government was changed by 66,882,230 voters and I don't think they were all trial lawyers. Control of the legislative branch has changed as well, and not because of the trial lawyers but because a majority of the voters was fed up with our leaders and wanted change. Now, that apparently didn't please you but your statement is not only unkind to trial lawyers, who we "all seem to bash sometimes, but also to all of those Democrats who teamed up and worked hard to effect the change of direction we need.

Ted Folkert

Marina del Rey