Jim Sensenbrenner: “Mr. Speaker, recently President Bush said, ``We must protect small business owners and workers from the explosion of…”

“Mr. Speaker, recently President Bush said, ``We must protect small business owners and workers from the explosion of frivolous lawsuits that threaten jobs across America.'' Even Senator Kerry claims to support national legislation in which ``lawyers who file frivolous cases would face tough, mandatory sanctions, including a `three strikes and you're out' provision that forbids lawyers who file three frivolous cases from bringing another suit for the next 10 years.'' Well, help is on the way. H.R. 4571, the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act, would restore mandatory sanctions and monetary penalties under Federal rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for filing frivolous lawsuits and abusing the litigation process. It would also extend these same protections to cover State cases that a State judge determines to have interstate effects, and it would prevent forum shopping by requiring personal injury cases to be brought only where the plaintiff lives or was allegedly injured, or where the defendant's principal place of business is located. H.R. 4571 will also apply a ``three strikes and you're out'' rule to attorneys who commit multiple rule 11 violations in Federal district court and impose mandatory civil sanctions for willful and intentional document destruction intended to obstruct the pending court proceeding.”