Five amici have filed briefs with the California Supreme Court in the public nuisance lead lawsuit filed by municipalities against the former makers of lead paint, with another eight parties seeking approval file briefs of their own.

The California State Association of Counties, the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General, the California District Attorneys Association, the Healthy Children Organizing Project and the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) all filed their briefs April 30.

Parties hoping to be granted permission to file briefs include the Heartland Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Civil Justice Association of California, the National Association of African-Americans in Housing,  the Public Nuisance Fairness Coalition, and the National Paint and Coatings Association.

The California Supreme Court is weighing the appropriateness of contingency fee agreements between public entites such as cities and counties and private plaintiff law firms.