Constitution Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Class Action Lawsuit Abuse
February 20, 2015
Washington, D.C. – On Friday, February 27, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., the Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the state of class action lawsuits ten years after the enactment of the Class Action Fairness Act, legislation authored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte. The Class Action Fairness Act, which was signed into law on February 18, 2005, was designed to curb the widespread abuse of frivolous class action lawsuits, while preserving the rights of citizens to bring such actions. The Class Action Fairness Act sought to streamline the ability of the courts to deal with class action lawsuits by making it easier for those involved in the case to transfer suits from the state courts to the federal courts.
Witnesses for Friday’s hearing are below.
· Mr. Andrew Pincus, Partner, Mayer Brown, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform
· Mr. John Parker Sweeney, President, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
· Ms. Patricia Moore, Professor of Law, St. Thomas University School of Law
· Ms. Jessica Miller, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee Chairman Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) issued the following statements on the upcoming subcommittee hearing.
Chairman Goodlatte: “Ten years ago I helped usher the Class Action Fairness Act through Congress and to the President’s desk where it was signed into law. This legislation corrected a serious flaw in our federal jurisdiction statutes that forbid federal courts from hearing most interstate class actions. These lawsuits involve more money and touch more Americans than virtually any other litigation pending in the American legal system. While the reforms contained in the Class Action Fairness Act have been integral to improving the civil justice system in the U.S, abusive class action practices still exist. This hearing will examine these problems and look for ways to ensure that class action lawsuits benefit the consumers they are intended to compensate.”
Subcommittee Chairman Franks: “Enactment of the Class Action Fairness Act ten years ago was a milestone in the effort to achieve a more fair and effective class action system in America. However, despite the great success the Act has had, several problems with class action litigation persist. This hearing will allow the Committee to examine those problems and to begin to craft solutions aimed at ensuring that class action litigation provides just results for all participants.”
This hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at judiciary.house.gov. Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally-credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.
Witnesses for Friday’s hearing are below.
· Mr. Andrew Pincus, Partner, Mayer Brown, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform
· Mr. John Parker Sweeney, President, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
· Ms. Patricia Moore, Professor of Law, St. Thomas University School of Law
· Ms. Jessica Miller, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee Chairman Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) issued the following statements on the upcoming subcommittee hearing.
Chairman Goodlatte: “Ten years ago I helped usher the Class Action Fairness Act through Congress and to the President’s desk where it was signed into law. This legislation corrected a serious flaw in our federal jurisdiction statutes that forbid federal courts from hearing most interstate class actions. These lawsuits involve more money and touch more Americans than virtually any other litigation pending in the American legal system. While the reforms contained in the Class Action Fairness Act have been integral to improving the civil justice system in the U.S, abusive class action practices still exist. This hearing will examine these problems and look for ways to ensure that class action lawsuits benefit the consumers they are intended to compensate.”
Subcommittee Chairman Franks: “Enactment of the Class Action Fairness Act ten years ago was a milestone in the effort to achieve a more fair and effective class action system in America. However, despite the great success the Act has had, several problems with class action litigation persist. This hearing will allow the Committee to examine those problems and to begin to craft solutions aimed at ensuring that class action litigation provides just results for all participants.”
This hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at judiciary.house.gov. Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally-credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.