Rodney Frelinghuysen: “I rise today with words of support for H.R. 956, the Common Sense Product Liability and Legal Reform Act, as well as…”

“I rise today with words of support for H.R. 956, the Common Sense Product Liability and Legal Reform Act, as well as H.R. 10, the entire package of commonsense legal reforms which the House of Representatives has passed this week. I strongly support the efforts of this House to bring much needed reforms to our tort liability system. This legislation, if enacted, will benefit the State of New Jersey, its businesses, and its consumers. I have heard from hundreds of constituents and businesses in the 11th District of New Jersey regarding the need for limitations on frivolous lawsuits. These constituents are all too familiar with the rising costs of liability insurance. I have also heard from constituents whose businesses, increasingly in the past several years, have been the targets of frivolous lawsuits which were eventually found meritless. These decisions came only after having spent obscene amounts of time and money defending themselves. These constituents are all too familiar with the phenomenon of costly settlements having to be made to settle even costlier lawsuits. The reality is that even a single frivolous lawsuit is sometimes enough to force a small business out of business. Unfortunately, the costs associated with this reality are then passed on to clients and consumers. Everyone agrees that citizens should have the right to sue and collect reasonable compensation if they are wrongfully injured. These bills will continue to protect fully, that right.”