Press Release
AAJ Statement on Markup of the "Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017"
February 16,2017
Washington, DC—The following is a statement from American Association for Justice CEO Linda Lipsen on today’s markup of the “Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017” [H.R. 985] in the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. The bill would eviscerate nearly every type of class action and mass tort action brought in the United States, and prevent the enforcement of fundamental civil rights, and consumer, employee, and investor protection laws.
“When Americans are unwittingly victimized by widespread corporate wrongdoing, justice demands that they have an opportunity to join together to hold those corporations accountable. However, H.R. 985 will deny groups of injured consumers, workers, and investors of their right to be represented by an attorney, while also providing corporations with new ways to hide evidence of wrongdoing.”
“Shockingly, this committee has not held a single hearing to consider the consequences of this ill-conceived, overly-broad legislation. Supporting a bill that rigs the legal system against your constituents is offensive; doing so without even bothering to hold a public hearing and debate the merits is reprehensible.”
