WASHINGTON, D.C.  For the second time in as many weeks, the House has passed legislation to curb frivolous lawsuits and restore some common sense to the judicial process.

Representative Adam H. Putnam today praised the House passage of H.R. 420, the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2005, calling it “the latest in several successful attempts to rein in frivolous lawsuits and fix America’s broken legal system.”

The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 228-184, now moves to the Senate for consideration.

“On October 20, 2005, the House passed with my support the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005, also known as the ‘Cheeseburger Bill,’” said Putnam, who serves on the House Rules and Budget Committees. “This bill requires courts to dismiss lawsuits seeking damages resulting from weight gain or obesity against people who make or sell food. Today’s action makes it harder to file frivolous lawsuits and imposes penalties on trial lawyers who do so.” 

H.R. 420 would:

•           Eliminate an existing rule that allows lawyers to avoid sanctions by quickly withdrawing meritless claims; and

•           Direct federal judges to suspend for one year lawyers who file three meritless claims in any single judicial district over the course of their careers

“We in the House are serious about curbing frivolous lawsuits. In addition to these two bills, we have passed Class Action and Medical Malpractice reform this year,” Putnam concluded. “By retaining our focus on this issue, we will be able to fix our broken legal system for all Americans.”