WASHINGTON, D.C., July 11, 2003 -- The United States Chamber of Commerce welcomed news that the subpoenas against Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber, and three other tort reform advocates have been withdrawn by a Madison County law firm. "The subpoena was an illegitimate attempt to silence the critics of lawsuit abuse," said Lisa Rickard, president of the Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform. "The attorney's action to withdraw his own subpoena saved the court from wasting its time in a hearing, but the outcome would have been the same." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 9, 2003 -- The United States Chamber of Commerce criticized obstructionist members of the U.S. Senate for blocking a vote on medical liability reforms that would help ensure essential health care services and affordable coverage remain available. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 8, 2003 -- The United States Chamber of Commerce today urged the Supreme Court to strike down provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act that unconstitutionally restrict free speech, urging the high court to uphold previous rulings that the First Amendment takes precedence over the government's ability to regulate elections. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce released a new study today that challenges the notion that fast food restaurants are to blame for the increase in obesity among Americans and says that lawsuits won't help people lose weight. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 25, 2003 -- The United States Chamber of Commerce today filed a motion in Madison County, Illinois, to quash subpoenas served on U.S. Chamber President Thomas J. Donohue and three others following a June 5 news conference highlighting lawsuit abuse in the Madison County court system and the need for reform. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce released a new study that reflects strong public and union support for a legislative solution to the asbestos litigation crisis crippling the American economy. "Most Americans agree - the truly sick must be taken care of before all others," said Lisa A. Rickard, president of the Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. "For years, everyone from the U.S. Supreme Court to academics have been calling for a viable legislative solution to the asbestos litigation crisis - and now union workers have joined the chorus." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 12, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce praised the U.S. House of Representatives today for passing class action reform - for the third time - and urged the Senate to follow suit. The Chamber has lobbied hard on behalf of the Class Action Fairness Act, which restores fairness for defendants and ends abuses of the current class action system. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 22, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce welcomed movement on Capitol Hill toward a solution on how to handle the tangle of asbestos lawsuits that are bankrupting companies across the country. "Congress must act to protect people who have been harmed by asbestos and close the door on the unimpaired, who are looking for a quick payout," said Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. "There is not a single legal issue more potentially damaging to the U.S. business community and our economy as a whole than asbestos litigation." Read More
Washington, D.C., May 22, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce cheered the House Judiciary Committee's approval of a bill designed to help consumers and businesses by curbing abusive lawsuits filed by class action trial lawyers. Read More
WASHINGTON, DC, April 25, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce today endorsed a comprehensive business-climate enhancement bill under consideration by the Iowa House of Representatives. The Iowa Senate previously endorsed the plan, as did the Commerce Committee of the Iowa House. Read More
WASHINGTON, DC, April 11, 2003 - The Senate Judiciary Committee's vote today to reform the state court class action lawsuit system is the beginning of a process to make class action lawsuits simpler, fairer and faster for everyone. The bill will curb rampant venue shopping in state courts and abusive settlements in which class members receive coupons or something else of little value while their lawyers receive huge legal fees, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Read More
WASHINGTON, DC, April 11, 2003 - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce commends Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) for her leadership in co-sponsoring the Class Action Fairness Act of 2003. "We applaud Senator Lincoln for taking this important step in helping reform the class action system," said Stanton D. Anderson, the Chamber's executive vice president and chief legal officer. "Senator Lincoln's endorsement reaffirms and strengthens the bipartisan support in Congress for moderate and reasonable legal reform." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 9, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce's second annual poll of corporate counselors and senior litigators on the fairness or reasonableness of state liability systems gave Georgia a "C-" rating and continued to find a majority of states deserve a grade of fair to poor. The state ranks 39 this year, a significant drop from 23 in 2002 Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 9, 2003 The United States Chamber of Commerce's second annual poll of corporate counselors and senior litigators on the fairness or reasonableness of state liability systems continues to find a majority of states deserve a grade of fair to poor. "When abusive lawsuits rush in, new jobs stay out," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "States must know that if they maintain legal systems that are unfair for companies, those companies can and will go elsewhere." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce derided a Madison County, Illinois, court for certifying a class action case that resulted in a multi-billion dollar award against the Philip Morris tobacco company. "Madison County is the epicenter of class action filings in America," said Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. "This case should go down in the history books as the poster child for venue abuse." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 14 - The United States Chamber of Commerce today complimented the West Virginia State Legislature for passing and Governor Bob Wise for signing into law a medical liability reform bill that will help doctors and hospitals to continue meeting the health care needs of West Virginians. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 13 - The United States Chamber of Commerce today urged House lawmakers to reform the current medical liability system to help control skyrocketing costs and ensure that health care services and affordable coverage remain available. "The cost of this crisis is not measured in dollars," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "As physicians exit their profession due to the scarcity and high cost of malpractice coverage, fewer patients will realize the benefits of life-saving and life-enhancing innovation. It's time for Congress to act." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 5, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce commended U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) for holding hearings to address the asbestos litigation crisis that has bankrupted dozens of companies and put thousands out of work. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 5, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce today released the findings of a new poll showing that most Americans believe the class action lawsuit system is broken. Sixty-seven percent of the 813 likely voters surveyed said the class action system should be reformed. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 3, 2003 - The United States Chamber of Commerce has named a new president for its affiliate, the Institute for Legal Reform. Lisa Rickard will handle the day-to-day operations of the business group's efforts to restore fairness, efficiency and consistency to the U.S. civil justice system. Read More