Rep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) voted for HR 758, the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act. This bill would prevent the filing of hundreds of thousands of pages of frivolous legal pleadings in federal court.
The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act ensures that judges impose monetary sanctions on lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits, including the attorney’s fees and costs incurred by the victim of frivolous lawsuits. It also abolishes the “safe harbor” provision in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that allows an attorney to avoid sanctions by withdrawing their suit within 21 days after a motion for sanctions has been filed.
This bill applies to cases brought by individuals, businesses, plaintiffs, and defendants. It seeks to reduce the billions of dollars wasted on frivolous lawsuits every year, which force individuals and businesses to spend thousands of dollars on litigation.
Cook said, “Attorneys who file frivolous lawsuits should be held accountable for their actions. In these challenging economic times, too many Americans are still looking for work. We need to free up our businesses to hire more and invest more. Hopefully this bill has them thinking twice before filing and wasting everyone’s time.”
A member of the House Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Natural Resources Committees, Cook served as an infantry officer and retired after 26 years as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his time in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.