One of the basic tenets of our civil justice system is the ability of citizens to turn to the courts for equitable relief when they are legitimately wronged or harmed. Today, however, that system is being bogged down by frivolous lawsuits that are threatening American businesses, our health care system, and our way of life. In just the last ten years, filings of state court class action lawsuits have increased by 1,000 percent. That increase and the threat of costly lawsuits are causing businesses to raise prices and lay off employees, hospitals to shut down, and deserving victims to receive little compensation -- all while unscrupulous lawyers are collecting exorbitant fees. Congress must act to curtail abusive and frivolous lawsuits that are hindering economic growth and job creation.
The House of Representatives has, in fact, acted to curb some of these abuses by passing important tort reform legislation, including a number of bills that have gone through the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, of which I am Ranking Republican. In times when the ridiculous often sees its day in court, I am committed to restoring sanity to the courtroom.
