[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                FRIVOLOUS SUIT REDUCTION ACT INTRODUCED

                                 ______


                          HON. BOB LIVINGSTON

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. LIVINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, like cannon fire on a besieged city, 
frivolous lawsuits are bombarding our legal system with increasing 
frequency and overwhelming intensity. If this is allowed to continue, 
I'm afraid our legal system will be reduced to rubble.
  To address this crisis, I've introduced legislation which will help 
curtail frivolous suits. My bill, the Frivolous Suit Reduction Act, 
will award reasonable attorney's fees as part of the cost to the 
prevailing defendant in Federal civil actions. In other words, the 
loser pays. Great Britain already has a similar law in place, and I am 
pleased to report that the Republican Contract With America's Common 
Sense Legal Reform Act contains a loser pays rule.
  The Frivolous Suit Reduction Act will greatly discourage petty suits 
and rightfully compensate defendants who must fight such cases. While 
some judges occasionally require a plaintiff to pay a defendant's legal 
fees, unless it is mandatory we will have little success in our effort 
to reduce frivolous suits.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to put an end to petty litigation. I urge all 
my colleagues to cosponsor the Frivolous Suit Reduction Act.

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