"...keep America the best place in the world to do business"

Senate OKs Bill Curbing Class Action Suits

Thu Feb 10, 8:56 PM ET Politics - Reuters

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate approved a bill on Thursday that was sought by business to curb class action lawsuits and is part of President Bush (news - web sites)'s drive to overhaul the civil justice system.

The bill would shift most class action suits from state to federal courts, historically less friendly toward such cases. Advocates said the measure would reduce lawyers' forum-shopping for state courts with track records of big settlements.

Opponents, including consumer, environmental and civil rights groups, fear overburdened federal courts will not take many of the class action cases, making it harder to hold big companies accountable for their products and actions.

The House of Representatives is expected to pass the bill next week and send it to Bush for signing into law. Bush praised lawmakers for moving to rein in "junk lawsuits" he says are hurting business.

"The class action bill is a strong step forward in our efforts to reform the litigation system and keep America the best place in the world to do business," Bush said in a statement.

Class action cases allow plaintiffs to combine claims against a common defendant into one suit. The bill would authorize federal courts to hear such suits involving more than $5 million and persons or companies from different states...