Jun. 22, 2013

Consumer Watchdog throws annual Rage for Justice

Promising the film industry's help on consumer and progressive issues, movie producer Chris Moore accepted a new award from the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog. "You guys are badasses," Moore said to more than 600 people at the group's Rage for Justice awards dinner Saturday. "You're out there every day battling for people's minds. … What media can do is change people's hearts." The organization gave Moore a new award for media contributions to social justice issues, which is named for Moore's 2009 documentary, "The People Speak." Moore also produced "Good Will Hunting," "Promised Land," and the "American Pie" films, among others. J.J. Abrams, director of the new "Star Trek" films, presented the award to Moore. Abrams told the banquet hall full of plaintiffs lawyers and consumer advocates, "I'm giving you the biggest compliment I possibly can when I say, 'You guys scare the hell out of me.'" Also at the dinner, Consumer Watchdog gave its Phillip Burton Lifetime Legal Achievement Award to Mark P. Robinson Jr. of Robinson Calcagnie Robinson Shapiro Davis Inc., honoring his four decades as a leading plaintiff-side attorney. Robinson is co-lead counsel in the ongoing Toyota acceleration class action and currently is trying a class action in San Diego involving light cigarettes. "When you're doing the Lord's work, doing the work of angels, it is exciting to do, isn't it?" Robinson said. "So I'll keep doing it until they pull me off the stage." — Don J. DeBenedictis