[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 45 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            COMMON SENSE LEGAL STANDARDS REFORM ACT OF 1995

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                               speech of

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill H.R. 956, to 
     establish legal standards and procedures for product 
     liability litigation, and for other purposes.

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Chairman, the House is moving forward with common 
sense legal reforms. We restored attorney accountability and curbed 
nuisance securities lawsuits. Now we must work to restore fairness to 
the legal system by ensuring that real victims are rewarded.
  Polls show that 72 percent of American workers and consumers favor 
legislation that places tighter limits and restrictions on an 
individual's ability to sue another person or company. Americans are 
tired of paying the tab for lawsuit abuse and litigation greed. They 
want a civil justice system that protects their rights and restores 
fairness, not one that promotes unfair behavior.
  Lawsuit abuse has taken on a life of its own. It clogs our courts, 
dampens job growth, promotes slick lawyer tactics, produces higher 
prices, inflates insurance premiums and keeps Americans out of the 
competitive world market. We must stop this trend. American consumers, 
workers, and producers work too hard to suffer the economic 
consequences promoted by a greed driven legal system.
  Our Republican Common Sense Product Liability and Legal Reform Act, 
H.R. 956, restores fairness and deters frivolous lawsuits by placing 
caps on punitive damage awards and reforming product liability laws. 
H.R. 956 represents a legitimate effort to stem the tide of costly and 
trivial lawsuits. Reforming our product liability laws will strengthen 
the economy and the free market by encouraging and promoting 
manufacturer innovation, in turn creating new jobs and more consumer 
products.
  Mr. Chairman, I strongly support passage of the Common Sense Product 
Liability and Legal Reform Act. It is time to end out of control 
lawsuit abuse. Americans want a legal system that works for them--a 
system where legitimate grievances will be addressed and not 
overshadowed by baseless, costly litigation.


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