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Law bans predatory ADA lawsuits against businesses
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SACRAMENTO (AP) — A new law will protect California businesses, especially small-business owners, from frivolous lawsuits filed under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Gov. Jerry Brown announced Wednesday he signed SB1186 by Democratic Senate leader Darrell Steinberg and Republican Sen. Bob Dutton.

The bill takes aim at predatory lawsuits related to the federal law. It bans so-called "demand letters," in which lawyers threaten to sue over a possible violation unless a business pays thousands of dollars to settle.

It also prevents lawyers from stacking multiple claims for the same violation as a way to increase payouts.

The law, parts of which take effect immediately, also reduces damages for businesses that fix unintended violations within two months. The law preserves the right for plaintiffs to sue businesses for full liability for intentional violations.

City leaders: Horses

 and dogs don't mix

MENIFEE . (AP) — Leaders of a Southern California city agree: A park allowing dogs and horses is a bad idea.

The horse and dog park proposal was hatched during a June 14 planning retreat attended by leaders of Menifee, a southwest Riverside County community east of Lake Elsinore. The aim was to make the town more equestrian friendly.

But the proposal was scrapped by the City Council on Tuesday. They will now look into building separate parks for horses and dogs.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise says resident Rick Croy told the council horses and dogs don't get along and city researchers discovered the combination of a horse and dog park had failed elsewhere.

In Cherry Creek State Park in Colorado's Arapahoe County, for instance, dogs chased horses spooked by the barking canines.

Poll: Calif. voters favor O

bama by wide margin

SACRAMENTO  (AP) — A new Field Poll shows likely voters in California overwhelmingly favor President Barack Obama over Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

The survey, released Wednesday, says 58 percent prefer Obama, compared to 34 percent for Romney. The 24-point spread is the same margin by which Obama, a Democrat, beat Republican John McCain in California in 2008.

The poll surveyed 891 likely voters by telephone Sept. 6-17, after the parties' nominating conventions. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

Field conducted the survey with The Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley.

It found 61 percent of likely voters have a favorable impression of Obama, his highest rating since October 2008, while 39 percent have a favorable impression of Romney, who owns a home in San Diego.