Small Business Lawsuit Abuse Protection Act of 1998

Summary

Small Business Lawsuit Abuse Protection Act of 1998 - Provides that, in any civil action against a small business (fewer than 50 full-time employees), punitive damages may be awarded against such business only if the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that conduct carried out by the defendant through willful misconduct or with a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of others was the proximate cause of the harm that is the subject of the action. Prohibits, in any action against a small business, punitive damages from exceeding the lesser of: (1) twice the amount awarded for economic and noneconomic losses; or (2) $250,000. Provides that, in such an action, the liability of each defendant small business shall be limited to the amount of noneconomic loss allocated to that defendant in direct proportion to its percentage of responsibility for the harm that is the subject of the action. Requires the court to render a separate judgment against each such defendant. Provides as exceptions to the small business liability limitations under this Act any misconduct: (1) that constitutes a crime of violence, international terrorism, or a hate crime; (2) that involves a sexual offense or a violation of a Federal or State civil rights law; or (3) if the defendant was under the influence of intoxicating alcohol or a drug at the time of the misconduct and that fact causes any of the harm alleged.

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Timeline

1. 5 March 1998

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 5 March 1998

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E319)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 5 March 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 5 March 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 5 March 1998 · Download file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 5 March 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 5 March 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  Vertaal document

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 5 March 1998

  Open at official source

  Leesvertaling

  Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

  Vertaal naarNL · DutchDE · GermanFR · FrenchES · SpanishIT · ItalianPL · PolishPT · PortugueseSV · SwedishDA · DanishFI · FinnishEL · GreekCS · CzechHU · HungarianRO · RomanianBG · BulgarianHR · CroatianSK · SlovakSL · SlovenianLT · LithuanianLV · LatvianET · EstonianGA · IrishMT · Maltese

  Vertaal document

  Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

• Rep. Inglis, Bob [R-SC-4] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Condit, Gary A. [D-CA-18] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Myrick, Sue Wilkins [R-NC-9] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [R-VA-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Barr, Bob [R-GA-7] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Gallegly, Elton [R-CA-24] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Norwood, Charles W. [R-GA-9] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Porter, John Edward [R-IL-10] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Hastings, Doc [R-WA-4] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Stenholm, Charles W. [D-TX-17] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [D-AL-5] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Watkins, Wes [R-OK-3] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Watts, J. C., Jr. [R-OK-4] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO] · R · Cosponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

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