[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   OHIO LAWSUIT ABUSE AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN A. BOEHNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 1997

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, the week of September 22-27, 1997, has been 
recognized in my home State as Ohio Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week. Ohio 
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse [OCALA] has worked tirelessly over the 
last few years to help reform our legal system. Citizens across the 
State of Ohio have organized behind OCALA to fight the problems of 
lawsuit abuse. Almost everyone agrees that America has become an overly 
litigious society. In the Federal courts alone, the number of lawsuits 
filed each year has tripled in the last 30 years to more than 260,000 
cases per year. This dramatic growth in litigation carries high costs 
for the U.S. economy: manufacturers raise their prices, withdraw 
products from the market, discontinue product research, and reduce 
their work force. The total cost of litigation in the United States is 
estimated to be approximately $150 billion per year, substantially 
higher than any other country and 2\1/2\ times the international 
average. While it is important to protect those who are truly victims, 
we must reform our system to prevent frivolous lawsuits.
  Republicans in the 104th Congress worked hard for meaningful reform 
of our Nation's legal system, and over the President's veto we enacted 
legislation protecting employers from abusive strike suits brought by 
the securities bar. Unfortunately, our efforts with broader-based 
legislation intended to end lawsuit-abuse, restore fairness to the 
legal system, and ensure that real victims--not greedy lawyers--are 
fairly compensated was vetoed by President Clinton at the urging of 
trial lawyers.
  Despite this setback, I will continue to work hard with my colleagues 
in Congress and with organizations like OCALA to pass bipartisan, 
commonsense legislation that will end lawsuit abuse and protect 
American consumers and workers.
  While OCALA has thousands of supporters in the State of Ohio, I would 
like to take the opportunity to recognize some individuals who have 
given countless hours to advance the need for ending lawsuit abuse. 
They are Dana Smith, executive director of OCALA, Jackie Fox, 
chairwomen, Dr Claire Wolfe, Dr. David Rummel, Gerald Miller, Ken 
Blair, Jr., James Martin, Oron Elliott, Jack Koester, and Peter Beck, 
each directors and supporters of the continual efforts of OCALA.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend all of the individuals who are 
involved in Ohio Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse for their dedication to 
this important endeavor. Ohio and the country as a whole need 
organizations like OCALA which will continue to fight against lawsuit 
abuse and for legal reform that is fair to all American citizens.

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