John Conyers: “In closing, the loser pays is a phrase that appeals to everyone who has heard it. It removes itself to anecdotes about…”

“In closing, the loser pays is a phrase that appeals to everyone who has heard it. It removes itself to anecdotes about court cases that appeared or produced an absurd or abusive outcome, but government by anecdote can produce disastrous policy. Although the Contract With America claims that the loser pays provision is intended to penalize frivolous lawsuits and discourage the filing of weak cases, it is almost certain to have adverse consequences which limit access to justice. The Harman amendment to recommit essentially cushions some of the worst features that now exist in the bill, and, as I have said before, it duplicates the bill on securities litigation by adopting the very same standard. Please support the motion to recommit this bill.”