Representing North Carolina’s Ninth District                                                                        

REP. MYRICK VOTES TO REFORM CLASS ACTION LITIGATION

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Sue Myrick (NC-9) voted for S. 5, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005.  The bill is designed to curb class action lawsuit abuse in state courts. 

 “It’s about time Congress passed a law that will reform a part of our legal system,” said Rep. Myrick.  “American families, consumers, and employers have been unduly burdened by lawsuit abuse.  This bill will curb frivolous lawsuits and will prevent lawyers from seeking ‘jackpot justice’ that fills their pockets and leaves the true victims with little or nothing.” 
 
 This bill would shift class action lawsuits to federal courts by creating federal jurisdiction over suits where the total amount in dispute exceeds $5 million, or when the defendant and a large portion of plaintiffs live in different states.  The bill would treat certain “mass actions” with more than 100 plaintiffs as class actions for purposes of jurisdiction.  In addition, the bill would create a “Consumer Class Action Bill of Rights” that would ensure that members of the class action suit, not the lawyers, are the primary beneficiaries of the court’s ruling.

 The bill makes it harder for frivolous class action lawsuits to see the light of day because federal courts provide greater scrutiny of class action lawsuits than do state courts.  The House passes the bill 279-149.  The Senate has already passed the bill, and it will now the go to the President’s desk for his signature. 

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