Legal Reform

Policy Accomplishments for 2011

State Lawsuit Reforms

Contributed to efforts that successfully advanced comprehensive legal reform packages in Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. These proposals include provisions such as damage caps, limits on joint and several liability, expert evidence reform, and liability restraints.
Helped secure passage of state attorney general contingency fee transparency legislation in Arizona and Indiana, product liability reform in Florida, and joint and several liability reform in Pennsylvania.

Lawsuit Lending

Blocked efforts to advance legislation expanding third-party lawsuit lending in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and Tennessee.

State Securities Litigation

Blocked an attempt to expand New York’s Martin Act, which would have allowed for more securities litigation.

Federal Securities Litigation

Led the business community’s outreach to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the SEC regarding upcoming studies that could be used to expand securities litigation.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Led campaign to seek congressional support for legislation improving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Medical Liability Reform

Secured passage of meaningful medical liability reform by the House Judiciary and Energy & Commerce committees.

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act

Successfully advanced the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act through the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation would impose mandatory sanctions for frivolous civil litigation filed in federal courts.

Congressional Oversight

Successfully led an effort to encourage the House Judiciary Committee to engage in oversight activities and hearings on the U.S. civil justice system. Key areas highlighted include asbestos litigation abuses, transnational torts, third-party litigation financing, the enforcement of foreign court judgments, and state attorney general contingency fee arrangements.

International Issues

Opposed efforts to allow class action litigation at the EU level, as well as in the U.K. and France.
Prevented passage of pro-plaintiff proposals during debate on class action legislation in Mexico.

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