United States Chamber of Commerce Condemns Unfair Government Lawsuits

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The target list for government's arm-in-arm litigation effort with some trial lawyers may soon include alcoholic beverages, pharmaceutical products, automakers and other industries, United States Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Bruce Josten told the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

"Every CEO in America should feel uneasy. These government lawsuits are far-reaching and pose serious threats to American businesses and their employees," Josten told lawmakers. "We need prompt action by Congress. We need to stop governments from abusing their power to tax legitimate businesses through litigation, or where the law is against them, to strip legal rights from the companies they are suing."

Some trial lawyers are exploiting their alliance with government officials to run roughshod over the legislative process and determine public policy through the courts, he warned. Their goal: billions of dollars in settlement awards.

Josten said federal, state and local governments have become "super-plaintiffs" by removing legal defenses and other fundamental rights from the legal industries they're suing.

Josten urged lawmakers to support "The Litigation Fairness Act," (S. 1269), sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, which would prevent governments from stripping the rights of defendants.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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