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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 420 (109th)

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2005

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

26 January 2005

Last action

31 October 2005 · Introduced

Status

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

Sponsors

Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21], Rep. DeLay, Tom [R-TX-22], Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1], Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14], Rep. Green, Mark [R-WI-8], Rep. Herger, Wally [R-CA-2], Rep. Keller, Ric [R-FL-8], Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4], Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4], Rep. Cannon, Chris [R-UT-3], Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8], Rep. Norwood, Charles W. [R-GA-9], Rep. Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX-19], Rep. Chocola, Chris [R-IN-2], Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1], Rep. Feeney, Tom [R-FL-24], Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4], Rep. Miller, Gary G. [R-CA-42], Rep. Culberson, John Abney [R-TX-7], Rep. Garrett, Scott [R-NJ-5], Rep. Leach, James A. [R-IA-2], Rep. Kline, John [R-MN-2], Rep. Gallegly, Elton [R-CA-24], Rep. Otter, C. L. (Butch) [R-ID-1], Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3], Rep. Kennedy, Mark R. [R-MN-6], Rep. Myrick, Sue Wilkins [R-NC-9], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8], Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Ferguson, Mike [R-NJ-7], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Bradley, Jeb [R-NH-1], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rescom. Fortuno, Luis G. [R-PR-At Large], Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL], Rep. Davis, Jo Ann [R-VA-1], Rep. Souder, Mark E. [R-IN-3], Rep. Conaway, K. Michael [R-TX-11], Rep. Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA-48], Rep. Lewis, Ron [R-KY-2], Rep. Cox, Christopher [R-CA-48], Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2], Rep. Bartlett, Roscoe G. [R-MD-6], Rep. Gutknecht, Gil [R-MN-1], Rep. Ney, Robert W. [R-OH-18]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

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Summary

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2005 - Amends Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Signing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations to Court; Sanctions) to: (1) require courts to impose sanctions on attorneys, law firms, or parties who file frivolous lawsuits (currently discretionary); (2) disallow the withdrawal or correction of pleadings to avoid Rule 11 sanctions; (3) require courts to award parties prevailing on Rule 11 motions reasonable expenses and attorney's fees, if warranted; (4) authorize courts to impose Rule 11 sanctions that include reimbursement of a party's reasonable litigation costs in connection with frivolous lawsuits; and (5) make the discovery phase of litigation subject to Rule 11 sanctions. Makes Rule 11 applicable to state civil actions where the court determines, upon motion, that the action affects interstate commerce. Requires personal injury claims (defined to exclude class actions) filed in State or Federal court to be filed in the county or Federal district in which: (1) the person bringing the claim resides at the time of filing or resided at the time of the alleged injury; (2) the alleged injury or circumstances giving rise to the claim occurred; or (3) the defendant's principal place of business is located. Directs the trial court to determine which county or Federal district is the most appropriate forum in those situations where the alleged injury occurred in more than one county or district.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 26 January 2005

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 26 January 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 26 January 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 16 February 2005

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H633-634)

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 2 March 2005

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

    Source: Committee

  6. 20 May 2005

    Committee

    Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property Discharged.

    Source: Committee

  7. 25 May 2005

    Vote

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 11.

    Source: Committee

  8. 25 May 2005

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  9. 14 June 2005

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 69.

    Source: Calendars

  10. 14 June 2005

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 109-123.

    Source: Committee

  11. 14 June 2005

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 109-123.

    Source: Committee

  12. 25 October 2005

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 508 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 420 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

    Source: Floor

  13. 27 October 2005

    Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 508. (consideration: CR H9312-9329)

    Source: Floor

  14. 27 October 2005

    Vote

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 228 - 184 (Roll no. 553).

    Source: Floor

  15. 27 October 2005

    Passed

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

    Source: Floor

  16. 27 October 2005

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 228 - 184 (Roll no. 553).

    Source: Floor

  17. 27 October 2005

    Vote

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 196 - 217 (Roll no. 552). (consideration: CR H9327-9329; text: CR H9327)

    Source: Floor

  18. 27 October 2005

    Floor

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

    Source: Floor

  19. 27 October 2005

    Floor

    Mr. Barrow moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.

    Source: Floor

  20. 27 October 2005

    Passed

    The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text: CR H9319)

    Source: Floor

  21. 27 October 2005

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H9327)

    Source: Floor

  22. 27 October 2005

    Floor

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 420.

    Source: Floor

  23. 27 October 2005

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 420 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

    Source: Floor

  24. 27 October 2005

    Floor

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Tom Latham to act as Chairman of the Committee.

    Source: Floor

  25. 27 October 2005

    Floor

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 508 and Rule XVIII.

    Source: Floor

  26. 27 October 2005

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 508 passed House.

    Source: Floor

  27. 31 October 2005

    Introduced

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

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

11 official files

Referred in Senate (text)

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  • Referred in Senate (text)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 31 October 2005

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  • Referred in Senate (PDF)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 31 October 2005

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 27 October 2005

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 27 October 2005

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 27 October 2005

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 14 June 2005

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 14 June 2005

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  • Reported to House with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 14 June 2005

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 26 January 2005

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 26 January 2005

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 26 January 2005

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