WASHINGTON, D.C. – Harold Kim, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), issued the following statement today applauding the Nevada legislature for passing an attorney general sunshine bill (SB 244) and urging Governor Brian Sandoval to sign it into law. The bill promotes transparency and limits contingency fees when the Attorney General of Nevada hires outside private plaintiffs’ lawyers.

“We commend the Nevada legislature for acting to reform the practice of awarding contingency fee contracts to outside plaintiffs’ lawyers. Such schemes enrich lawyers at the expense of taxpayers and raise concerns about ‘pay-to-play,’ conflicts of interest, the use of a public entity for personal gain, and fairness in prosecutions.

“Nevada can join 11 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin that have recently taken action to limit outside contingency fee counsel arrangements by state attorneys general.

“Nevada’s bill would enact strong sunshine measures. In particular, it includes a prohibition on the use of civil penalties or fines to calculate contingency fee awards and an overall cap on the total amount of money that outside lawyers can collect.

“We commend Senator Greg Brower for his tireless leadership on this issue, and thank Attorney General Adam Laxalt for his thoughtful input in the process. We urge Governor Sandoval to swiftly sign this bill into law.”

ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the global, national, state, and local levels

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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