Melvin Watt: “Mr. Chairman, let me just engage my colleague in a colloquy to get a better understanding of what he is trying to do.…”

“Mr. Chairman, let me just engage my colleague in a colloquy to get a better understanding of what he is trying to do. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman says that he is exempting from the attorney's fees provisions for any private settlement. I guess the concern I have is I am not aware of any prison litigation which is taking place which has been settled without either court approval or court involvement of some kind. These cases simply do not resolve themselves in the way that an automobile accident resolves itself. In fact, every prison litigation involves a public issue which typically is brought as a class action and under the rules of civil procedure cannot be settled without court involvement. I am trying to get a better understanding of what you think you are accomplishing. I do not really think this amendment accomplishes anything based on my understanding of the way these kinds of litigation cases play themselves out.”