Opposition to the Federal "Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act"

Friday, January 27, 2017

 

The “Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act” (LARA), or H.R. 720, is a terrible federal bill that would amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.  Rule 11 provides judges with authority to sanction attorneys for filing frivolous claims (and defenses). Judges have discretion to decide, on a case-by-case basis, if sanctions are appropriate. LARA would remove this discretion, making sanctions mandatory. LARA would reinstate a rule put into effect in 1983 that was so unworkable it was rescinded in 1993 after many problems and nearly universal criticism. LARA is opposed by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the American Bar Association and a host of public interest organizations. 

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