Hearing held on bill to reduce frivolous lawsuits

WASHINGTON—The U.S. House has begun considering a measure that is designed to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits.

The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act, introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, would require federal judges to impose monetary sanctions on lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits, among other provisions.

The House passed a version of LARA in 1995, but the Senate failed to follow suit.

On Friday, the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution held the first hearing on the latest measure.

A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.