WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), made the following statement today about the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s passage of the Innocent Party Protection Act of 2017, and the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017:

“These bills will discourage plaintiffs’ lawyers from gaming America’s justice system to their advantage. Specifically, the bills will:

• Prevent plaintiffs’ lawyers from keeping a case in a friendly state court simply by naming a local defendant that is not the lawsuit’s true target
• Hold plaintiffs’ lawyers accountable for filing frivolous claims so they cannot simply withdraw a lawsuit without consequence

“We applaud the House Judiciary Committee for passing these commonsense legal reforms. We urge the full House and Senate to swiftly do the same, and send them to the president’s desk for his signature.”

ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the 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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