[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 44 (Thursday, March 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  ATTORNEY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995

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                               speech of

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 6, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 988) to 
     reform the Federal civil justice system.

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, our society is consumed by lawsuit fever--
sue the producer, sue the manufacturer, sue the seller. Frivolous 
lawsuits clog our courts and impose tremendous costs on American 
workers and consumers. Americans want a legal system that promotes 
civil justice, not greed.
  The only winners in the game of lawsuit abuse are the lawyers. 
Consumers lose and workers lose. Lawsuit abuse scares away jobs and 
stifles innovative new products. Consumers pay the tab for excessive 
litigation costs and jury awards through higher prices and outrageous 
insurance premiums. These litigation taxes cost Americans $130 billion 
a year. Fairness no longer exists in our current civil justice system. 
Hardworking consumers should not pay the tab for legal tactics and 
judicial abuse.
  Our Republican commonsense product liability and legal reform bill, 
H.R. 988, works to restore national fairness and common sense to a 
judicial system spinning out of control. H.R. 988 puts an end to 
frivolous, excessive lawsuits by capping damages at $250,000 or three 
times the amount of economic damage. Furthermore, it requires 
plaintiffs to prove that harm was flagrantly intended by the defendant.
  The commonsense product liability and legal reform bill restores 
accountability and responsibility. H.R. 988 provides a remedy for 
America's litigation fever, while ensuring that justifiable claims will 
be fairly tried and rewarded. Americans are tired of supporting a civil 
justice system that abuses their rights and freedoms as workers and 
consumers.


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