WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce today urged the people of Mississippi to do everything they can to change the state's deeply flawed legal system that targets out-of-state businesses with frivolous lawsuits and outrageous verdicts. The Chamber also shared its concerns about the significant risks its members and all companies face when doing business in Mississippi. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce praised the U.S. House of Representatives today for passing the Class Action Fairness Act, by a vote of 233 to 190, and urged the Senate to follow suit. "For too long, America's legal system has made trial lawyers richer at the expense of innocent consumers, shareholders and businesses," said James M. Wootton, president of the Institute for Legal Reform, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber. "Today lawmakers have sent a strong signal that the days of class action abuse are numbered." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 7, 2002 - The United States Chamber of Commerce praised the House Judiciary Committee for favorably reporting out the Class Action Fairness Act, by a vote of 16 to 10, and urged the full House to act swiftly."Those who voted for class action fairness have the vision necessary to bring about real change in a legal system greatly needing repair," said James M. Wootton, president of the Institute for Legal Reform, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber. "This action is welcome news for consumers, shareholders and businesses of all sizes." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce today released a poll, conducted by HarrisInteractive, assessing the liability systems of all 50 states and ranking them on the perceived fairness or reasonableness of their litigation environments. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 20, 2001 - The United States Chamber of Commerce today expressed its frustration over the Senate's failure to enact legislation to ensure the availability of terrorism insurance coverage for millions of businesses and provide modest liability protections. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 4, 2001 - The United States Chamber of Commerce today highlighted the need for more affordable and reliable insurance options to help businesses cope with increased risks, releasing a survey showing business owners are concerned that major lawsuits or uninsured claims could drive them out of business. "Businesses are worried about increased liability, but many remain underinsured," said Chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue. "In post-911, companies large and small are reexamining their insurance needs, and many current strategies are coming up short." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 29, 2001 - The United States Chamber of Commerce today praised House passage of the Terrorism Risk Protection Act (H.R. 3210) to protect the availability of terrorism insurance coverage for millions of American businesses and limit lawsuits that seek to blame businesses for terrorist acts. The U.S. Chamber urged the Senate to follow suit quickly, as the heightened risk of future attacks threatens to undermine primary insurers' and reinsurers' ability to provide adequate future commercial insurance coverage. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 26, 2001 - The United States Chamber of Commerce urged the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to exercise its full and exclusive authority to preempt state courts from dictating how power companies determine electricity rates and compensate customers for overcharges. Read More
WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 19, 2001 - James Wootton, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, hailed the election of Democratic Judge John Weimer to the Louisiana Supreme Court.Weimer, a State Circuit Court of Appeals Judge, defeated State District Court Judge Mary Hotard Becnel in a special run-off election on Saturday, November 17. Weimer will represent the Sixth Judicial District on the high court. Read More
Washington, D.C., Nov. 16, 2001 - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today applauded introduction of a Senate bill - S. 1712, "The Class Action Fairness Act of 2001" - that would allow complex national class actions to be tried in federal instead of state courts, where the rules are the same for all Americans. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 14, 2001 - The United States Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) today filed Public Records Requests to determine the culpability of the city of St. Louis and Missouri's government agencies in the context of their legal action against the former manufacturers of lead pigment and lead-based paint. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 9, 2001 - James Wootton, President of the US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, hailed the election of two pro-legal reform candidates on Tuesday, November 6 - Jerry Kilgore, who won the Virginia Attorney General race, and Judge Mike Eakin, who earned a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 19, 2001 - The United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform today commended the trial lawyer community for its willingness to handle claims free of charge through the Victims' Compensation Fund, but expressed concern about potential 'bait and switch'. Read More
Statement by James Wootton, President of the US Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), regarding the death of ILR Board Member Barbara Olson, who perished Tuesday, September 11, 2001, on American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon. Read More
Washington, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce today applauded the introduction of legislation that would reform the nation's class action system to prevent abusive and frivolous lawsuits from overloading the legal system and to ensure that all parties are treated fairly. Read More
Washington, D.C. - The United States Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is launching a television and print media campaign to highlight the potentially devastating impact that the Kennedy-McCain Patients' Bill of Rights legislation would have on health care coverage in America. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 10, 2001 - The United States Chamber of Commerce called the introduction today of legislation that would help to prevent lawsuit abuse that targets small businesses, while protecting the rights of those with legitimate claims, long overdue "Small businesses too often settle lawsuits for large sums regardless of the merits, in fear of being crushed by the weight of unlimited punitive damage awards," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. "The legal fees alone from one lawsuit - frivolous or not - can put a small company out of business." Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2001 - The United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) filed Public Records Requests late Friday to determine what culpability the city of Providence, Rhode Island, and state government agencies have in the context of legal action against the former manufacturers of lead pigment and lead-based paint. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in 21 states today, seeking all documents and contracts pertaining both to the hiring of outside counsel in tobacco litigation and to the size of the attorneys' fees. The Chamber also called on Congress to investigate the excessive legal fees. Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 6, 2001 - The United States Chamber of Commerce warned lawmakers on Capitol Hill that Americans need better access to health care, not legislation that could potentially force employers to pull the plug on coverage for their workers. "Americans need more access to doctors, not lawyers," said Bruce Josten, Chamber executive vice president. "Opening the door to more health care litigation only invites more out-of-control lawsuits and staggering prices at a time of near-record health care cost inflation." Read More