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Class Action Fairness Act Set for Debate by U.S. Senate

Jul 06, 2004

According to the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA), Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has recently said that debate on the Class Action Fairness Act of 2004 (S-2062) was expected to begin sometime after the July 4 Senate recess. The bill would move more class-action lawsuits from state court into federal court, where baseless lawsuits are more likely to be caught and thrown out.An even more promising sign that Congress is serious about the issue was legislation recently introduced by House Judiciary Courts Subcommittee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX).Smith’s bill would require federal judges to sanction plaintiffs and attorneys who file frivolous lawsuits.Representative Smith feels that individuals and attorneys who file baseless claims and victimize innocent people should be held accountable for their actions and hopes to bring the bill to the House floor sometime later this year. NJ CAR will continue to follow this legislation that may mark the beginning of meaningful tort reform.