Bush Signs Bill to Curb Class-Action Suits
By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer
I couldn't be happier that this legislation passed so quickly, much to many Dem's dismay. These class action lawsuits do little to reimburse those harmed. Instead the Dems look at this as a way to penalize a corporation while simultaneously fattening the pockets of their trial lawyer constituents.
Malarky...
Bush said having federal judges take most large class-action lawsuits away from state courts would "prevent trial lawyers from shopping around for friendly local venues." Under the bill, class-action suits seeking $5 million or more would be heard in state court only if the primary defendant and more than one-third of the plaintiffs are from the same state.
And limiting lawyers' fees in settlements where plaintiffs win product discounts instead of money, the president said, would keep lawyers from reaping "huge pay-outs while the plaintiffs ended up with coupons worth only a few dollars." The law links attorney fees to the coupons' redemption rate or actual hours spent on the case.
As usual, the naysayers (in this case, Alliance for Justice's prez, Nan Aron) perpetuate their anti-big-business beefs, calling the move of the class action suits asking for $5 million plus to federal court jurisdiction "legislation that makes it easier for corporations to evade responsibility for making right their wrongs."
"President Bush once again demonstrated that the deep pockets of powerful corporate interests are more important to this administration than protecting the rights of ordinary Americans," Aron said in a statement.
Now you want to tell me how enriching a trial lawyer "protects" the rights of ordinary Americans??? I repeat... malarky.
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