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Bill115th CongressFiled Jan 30, 2017Law
H.R. 720

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house without amendment (Mar 10, 2017)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question.

The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets.

Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.

What just happenedMar 13, 2017

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

Who’s behind it

Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21](R-TX)Sponsor
7 cosponsors7 R
Read on Congress.gov
7cosponsors2committees31actions4amendments2related bills4subjects
  1. Mar 13, 2017IntroReferral

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

    Judiciary Committee
  2. Mar 10, 2017FloorH38310

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

  3. Mar 10, 2017FloorH37100

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 188 (Roll no. 158). (text: CR H2030)

  4. Mar 10, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 188 (Roll no. 158).(text: CR H2030)

  5. Mar 10, 2017FloorH36110

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 186 - 232 (Roll no. 157).

    Judiciary Committee
  6. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8A000

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

  7. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back with an amendment to add a section at the end of the bill prohibiting language to be construed to apply to a civil action that implicates the foreign emoluments clause of the United States Constitution.

  8. Mar 10, 2017FloorH36100

    Ms. Lofgren moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2039)

    Judiciary Committee
  9. Mar 10, 2017FloorH35000

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  10. Mar 10, 2017FloorH32600

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 720.

  11. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

  12. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jeffries amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Jeffries demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  13. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jeffries Part A amendment No. 4.

  14. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Conyers amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Conyers demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  15. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Conyers Part A amendment No. 3.

  16. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  17. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Part A amendment No. 2.

  18. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Soto amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Soto demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  19. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Soto Part A amendment No. 1.

  20. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 720.

  21. Mar 10, 2017FloorH32400

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Evan H. Jenkins to act as Chairman of the Committee.

  22. Mar 10, 2017FloorH32020

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 180 and Rule XVIII.

  23. Mar 10, 2017FloorH8D000

    Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 720 and H.R. 985.

  24. Mar 10, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 180. (consideration: CR H2025-2041)

  25. Feb 24, 2017CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 4.

  26. Feb 24, 2017CommitteeH12200

    Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-16.

    Judiciary Committee
  27. Feb 24, 2017Committee5000

    Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-16.

    Judiciary Committee
  28. Jan 31, 2017Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

    Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
  29. Jan 30, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  30. Jan 30, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  31. Jan 30, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House without amendmentMar 10, 201781

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question.

The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets.

Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.

Reported to House without amendmentFeb 24, 201779

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question.

The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets.

Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.

Introduced in HouseJan 30, 2017

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question.

The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets.

Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 — Informed