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WASHINGTON—The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved a tort reform bill aimed at reducing frivolous lawsuits, clearing the way for the measure to the full House.
Among other things, the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act would require federal judges to impose monetary sanctions on lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits.
H.R. 966 was introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas.
The House passed a previous version of the measure in 2005, but the Senate failed to act.
Companion legislation introduced in the Senate by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Victor Schwartz, general counsel of the Washington-based American Tort Reform Assn., said Thursday’s action was significant because no amendments were added to the bill.
“In prior times, amendments were added that compromised the success” of the measure, Mr. Schwartz said. “This is a clean bill that is directed solely at having meaningful sanctions against frivolous lawsuits and we look forward to a floor vote soon.”
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House has begun considering a measure that is designed to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits.