CONTACTS: Linda Rozett/Eric Wohlschlegel
(202) 463-5682 / 888-249-NEWS

 

Monday, June 16, 2003

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce thanked Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN) and other House lawmakers for their vote in support of the Class Action Fairness Act, which restores fairness for defendants and ends abuses of the current class action system, in a letter to Capitol Hill.
 
“This legislation is critically needed by small and large businesses alike that are increasingly finding themselves the targets of class action lawsuits filed solely for the purpose of exploiting lenient state laws,” wrote Bruce Josten, Chamber executive vice president.  “This legislation will help ensure that class action lawsuits between parties of diverse citizenship can be heard in federal court rather than being forced to remain in state courts.”

 

The Class Action Fairness Act was approved by the U.S. House last week by a vote of 253–170.  Key reforms that protect consumers include: requiring class action settlement notices to be written in plain English; prohibiting settlements in which class members actually lose money after paying attorneys' fees; and protecting class members from getting coupons of little or no value while attorneys make millions of dollars.

 

“Congressman Hill’s support for this important legislation is greatly appreciated,” said Josten.  “His vote and the votes of his 31 Democrat colleagues who backed the Class Action Fairness Act prove that there is bipartisan support for ending abuses of the class action system, for protecting consumers and for restoring fairness and balance to our courts.”

 

A recent poll conducted for the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform found that 67 percent of those questioned thought the class action lawsuit system needed to be reformed.  The Chamber’s efforts will now focus on the Senate, which has yet to vote on the legislation.

 

The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region. The mission of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform is to make America’s legal system simpler, fairer and faster.

 

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