[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4282 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4282

To clarify the meaning of the term ``prevailing party'' with regard to 
                    the recovery of attorneys' fees.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 17, 2015

Mr. Cartwright introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

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                                 A BILL


 
To clarify the meaning of the term ``prevailing party'' with regard to 
                    the recovery of attorneys' fees.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Catalyst Theory Restoration Act of 
2015''.

SEC. 2. IN GENERAL.

    (a) Meaning of Prevailing Party.--In determining the meaning of any 
Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the 
various departments and agencies of the United States, or of any 
judicial or administrative rule, which provides for recovery of 
attorneys' fees, the term ``prevailing party'' shall include a party 
whose pursuit of a nonfrivolous claim or defense was a catalyst for a 
voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party that 
provides any significant part of the relief sought.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--This section shall not alter special 
eligibility criteria established for prevailing defendants nor alter 
any specific eligibility criteria contained in any statute that 
expressly limits or qualifies who may be considered a prevailing party 
for purposes of that statute.
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