WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) today commended U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow for his comments in support of comprehensive legal reform to halt the negative economic impact of excessive litigation. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate certain short sellers and the Milberg Weiss law firm, following a recent California ruling that the firm's clients appeared to have participated in a fraud on shareholders. The court ruling removed these short sellers as lead plaintiffs in a class action. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform's annual State Liability Systems Ranking Study found a wide gap between the best and worst states in legal fairness - a difference that underscores the need for both federal and state-based legal reform. "Opportunistic trial lawyers are flocking to courts in a handful of out-of-the-way places that are stacked in favor of plaintiffs' attorneys and that have shown a willingness to dole out huge awards in frivolous cases," said Thomas Donohue, U.S. Chamber President and CEO. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) applauded the Mississippi State Senate for passing comprehensive legal reform legislation and urged the Mississippi House to follow suit immediately. The Senate approved the bill 32-15. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce and its Institute for Legal Reform applauded a ruling by the Mississippi Supreme Court that is expected to help curb the practice of forum shopping - a process where plaintiffs' lawyers file lawsuits in a court district with a reputation for favorable verdicts - by placing common-sense limits on the ability to join parties in mass tort lawsuits. Read More
DAVOS, Switzerland - United States Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas Donohue announced the business organization would lead the effort to end the growing problem of global forum shopping by foreign plaintiffs' attorneys seeking friendly courts. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce celebrated news that Senate lawmakers reached a bipartisan deal to restore fairness for both defendants and consumers to the class action system and limit abusive lawsuits. "Businesses and consumers victimized by the current system can give thanks tomorrow that the days of class action abuse are numbered," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "We urge the Senate to pass the Class Action Fairness Act at the earliest opportunity." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 17, 2003 -- The United States Chamber of Commerce today issued two papers on the growing hazard of mold litigation and the lack of scientific evidence linking mold to health problems. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 15, 2003 - A United States Chamber of Commerce survey of doctors, pharmacists and patients found that drug lawsuits influence some people to stop taking their prescription medication. Read More
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