WASHINGTON - The House on Thursday passed a bill that would take away lawyers' licenses if they repeatedly file frivolous lawsuits, the latest in a Republican drive to crack down on what they consider costly abuses of the legal system.
Supporters of the bill, which passed 228-184, said lawsuits deemed baseless by a judge for flimsy facts or faulty interpretations of the law are a waste of court time and often a bonanza for lawyers — rather than a chance to recoup legitimate damages for clients.
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"All they want is for the defendant to settle," Smith said of the lawyers for such plaintiffs. "This is legalized extortion."
Opponents said the legislation would deter more than rogue lawyers. People with legitimate complaints against big companies could be scared off by a provision that would require judges to order the plaintiffs in lawsuits found to be frivolous to pay "reasonable" attorney fees of the defendants.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051027/ap_on_go_co/congress_lawsuits
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