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Bill106th CongressFiled Jun 9, 1999Law
H.R. 2112

Multidistrict Jurisdiction Act of 1999

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed senate amended (Oct 27, 1999)

Multidistrict Jurisdiction Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal judicial code to allow a civil action transferred for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings (multidistrict litigation) to be transferred for trial purposes by the judge or judges of the transferee district to whom the action was assigned, to the transferee or other district in the interest of justice and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses. Directs that any such action transferred for trial purposes be remanded by the panel for the determination of compensatory damages to the district court from which it was transferred, unless the court to which the action has been transferred also finds, for the convenience of the parties and witnesses and in the interests of justice, that the action should be retained for the determination of compensatory damages.

What just happenedNov 17, 1999

Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: and House requests a conference.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-9](R-WI)Sponsor
2 cosponsors2 R
Read on Congress.gov
2cosponsors2committees35actions1related bills20subjects
  1. Nov 17, 1999Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: and House requests a conference.

  2. Nov 16, 1999ResolvingDifferencesH41931

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Nov 16, 1999ResolvingDifferencesH41800

    The Speaker appointed conferees: Hyde, Sensenbrenner, Coble, Conyers, and Berman.

  4. Nov 16, 1999ResolvingDifferencesH41610

    On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H12020)

  5. Nov 16, 1999ResolvingDifferencesH40110

    Mr. Sensenbrenner asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference.

  6. Oct 28, 1999Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  7. Oct 27, 1999Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  8. Oct 27, 1999Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  9. Oct 27, 1999Floor

    The committee substitute agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

  10. Oct 27, 1999Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S13326-13327)

  11. Oct 21, 1999Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 341.

  12. Oct 21, 1999Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Judiciary Committee
  13. Oct 21, 1999Committee14000

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Judiciary Committee
  14. Oct 21, 1999Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Judiciary Committee
  15. Sep 24, 1999Committee

    Referred to Subcommittee on Oversight and Courts.

    Administrative Oversight and the Courts Subcommittee
  16. Sep 14, 1999IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  17. Sep 13, 1999FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  18. Sep 13, 1999FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  19. Sep 13, 1999Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  20. Sep 13, 1999FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2112.

  21. Sep 13, 1999FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8106-8109)

  22. Sep 13, 1999FloorH30300

    Mr. Coble moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  23. Jul 30, 1999CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 165.

  24. Jul 30, 1999CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 106-276.

    Judiciary Committee
  25. Jul 30, 1999Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 106-276.

    Judiciary Committee
  26. Jul 27, 1999CommitteeH19000

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Judiciary Committee
  27. Jul 27, 1999CommitteeH15000-B

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  28. Jul 15, 1999CommitteeH23000

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

    Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
  29. Jul 15, 1999CommitteeH22000

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
  30. Jun 16, 1999CommitteeH21000

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
  31. Jun 14, 1999CommitteeH11000

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.

    Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
  32. Jun 9, 1999IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  33. Jun 9, 1999IntroReferralB00100

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1182-1183)

  34. Jun 9, 1999IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  35. Jun 9, 1999IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed Senate amendedOct 27, 199935
Multidistrict Jurisdiction Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal judicial code to allow a civil action transferred for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings (multidistrict litigation) to be transferred for trial purposes by the judge or judges of the transferee district to whom the action was assigned, to the transferee or other district in the interest of justice and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses. Directs that any such action transferred for trial purposes be remanded by the panel for the determination of compensatory damages to the district court from which it was transferred, unless the court to which the action has been transferred also finds, for the convenience of the parties and witnesses and in the interests of justice, that the action should be retained for the determination of compensatory damages.
Reported to Senate with amendment(s)Oct 21, 199901
Multidistrict Jurisdiction Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal judicial code to allow a civil action transferred for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings (multidistrict litigation) to be transferred for trial purposes by the judge or judges of the transferee district to whom the action was assigned, to the transferee or other district in the interest of justice and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses. Directs that any such action transferred for trial purposes be remanded by the panel for the determination of compensatory damages to the district court from which it was transferred, unless the court to which the action has been transferred also finds, for the convenience of the parties and witnesses and in the interests of justice, that the action should be retained for the determination of compensatory damages.
Passed House amendedSep 13, 199936
Multidistrict, Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal judicial code to allow a civil action transferred for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings (multidistrict litigation) to be transferred for trial purposes by the judge or judges of the transferee district to whom the action was assigned, to the transferee or other district in the interest of justice and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses. Directs that any such action transferred for trial purposes be remanded by the panel for the determination of compensatory damages to the district court from which it was transferred, unless the court to which the action has been transferred also finds, for the convenience of the parties and witnesses and in the interests of justice, that the action should be retained for the determination of compensatory damages.

Grants Federal district courts original jurisdiction over civil actions arising out of a single accident that results in the death or injury of 25 or more natural persons, provided the injury has resulted in damages which exceed $75,000 per person and minimal diversity of citizenship (as prescribed in this Act) exists. Permits any person with a claim arising from such an accident to intervene as a party plaintiff, even if that person could not have brought an action in district court as an original matter. Requires a federal district court in which such an action is pending to notify the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation. Authorizes venue for such action in any district in which a defendant resides or in which a substantial part of the accident occurred.

Expands district court authority over such transferred actions to permit joint trial of liability and punitive damage issues. Calls for remand of damage determinations (other than punitive damages), including the possibility of remand to State courts in which actions were originally filed, unless the Federal court finds that it would serve the convenience of parties and witnesses and the interests of justice to retain the damages phase of the action as well.

Permits removal of actions from State to U.S. district courts to invoke the proposed jurisdiction and to join actions within the jurisdiction pending before the Federal court. Authorizes removal before trial within 30 days of a defendant's becoming a party to a suit under this Act, or at a later time with leave of the district court. Establishes a presumption in favor of discretionary remand to State courts for damages determinations after rulings on liability.

Provides that the district court in which an action under this Act is pending shall determine the source of the applicable substantive law and is not bound by the choice of law rules by any State. Requires the responsible district court to issue an order designating the jurisdiction whose law is to be applied in all actions under this Act arising from the same incident. Identifies factors that may be relevant in such choice of law determinations.

Authorizes nationwide service of process and, upon a showing of good cause, nationwide service of subpoenas with regard to actions under this Act.

Reported to House with amendment(s)Jul 30, 199917
Multidistrict, Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal judicial code to allow a civil action transferred for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings (multidistrict litigation) to be transferred for trial purposes by the judge or judges of the transferee district to whom the action was assigned, to the transferee or other district in the interest of justice and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses. Directs that any such action transferred for trial purposes be remanded by the panel for the determination of compensatory damages to the district court from which it was transferred, unless the court to which the action has been transferred also finds, for the convenience of the parties and witnesses and in the interests of justice, that the action should be retained for the determination of compensatory damages.

Grants Federal district courts original jurisdiction over civil actions arising out of a single accident that results in the death or injury of 25 or more natural persons, provided the injury has resulted in damages which exceed $75,000 per person and minimal diversity of citizenship (as prescribed in this Act) exists. Permits any person with a claim arising from such an accident to intervene as a party plaintiff, even if that person could not have brought an action in district court as an original matter. Requires a federal district court in which such an action is pending to notify the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation. Authorizes venue for such action in any district in which a defendant resides or in which a substantial part of the accident occurred.

Expands district court authority over such transferred actions to permit joint trial of liability and punitive damage issues. Calls for remand of damage determinations (other than punitive damages), including the possibility of remand to State courts in which actions were originally filed, unless the Federal court finds that it would serve the convenience of parties and witnesses and the interests of justice to retain the damages phase of the action as well.

Permits removal of actions from State to U.S. district courts to invoke the proposed jurisdiction and to join actions within the jurisdiction pending before the Federal court. Authorizes removal before trial within 30 days of a defendant's becoming a party to a suit under this Act, or at a later time with leave of the district court. Establishes a presumption in favor of discretionary remand to State courts for damages determinations after rulings on liability.

Provides that the district court in which an action under this Act is pending shall determine the source of the applicable substantive law and is not bound by the choice of law rules by any State. Requires the responsible district court to issue an order designating the jurisdiction whose law is to be applied in all actions under this Act arising from the same incident. Identifies factors that may be relevant in such choice of law determinations.

Authorizes nationwide service of process and, upon a showing of good cause, nationwide service of subpoenas with regard to actions under this Act.

Introduced in HouseJun 9, 199900

Multidistrict, Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal judicial code to: (1) allow a civil action transferred for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings (multidistrict litigation) to be transferred for trial purposes by the judge or judges of the transferee district to whom the action was assigned, to the transferee or other district in the interest of justice and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses; and (2) grant Federal district courts original jurisdiction over civil actions arising out of a single accident that results in the death or injury of 25 or more natural persons, provided the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000 per person and minimal diversity of citizenship exists.

Authorizes venue in any district in which a defendant resides or in which a substantial part of the accident occurred.

Expands district court authority over such transferred actions (previously covered only pretrial proceedings) to permit joint trial of liability and punitive damage issues. Calls for remand of damage determinations (other than punitive damages), including the possibility of remand to State courts in which actions were originally filed, unless the Federal court finds that it would serve the convenience of parties and witnesses and the interests of justice to retain the damages phase of the action as well.

Permits removal of actions from State to U.S. district courts to invoke the proposed jurisdiction and to join actions within the jurisdiction pending before the Federal court. Authorizes removal before trial within 30 days of a defendant's becoming a party to a suit under this Act, or at a later time with leave of the district court. Establishes a presumption in favor of discretionary remand to State courts for damages determinations after rulings on liability.

Provides that the district court in which an action under this Act is pending shall determine the source of the applicable substantive law and is not bound by the choice of law rules by any State. Requires the responsible district court to issue an order designating the jurisdiction whose law is to be applied in all actions under this Act arising from the same incident. Identifies factors that may be relevant in such choice of law determinations.

Authorizes nationwide service of process and, upon a showing of good cause, nationwide service of subpoenas with regard to actions under this Act.