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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 988 (104th)

Attorney Accountability Act of 1995

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

16 February 1995

Last action

15 March 1995 · Calendars

Status

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 28.

Sponsors

Rep. Moorhead, Carlos J. [R-CA-22], Rep. Hyde, Henry J. [R-IL-6], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

7 April 2025

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Attorney Accountability Act of 1995 - Amends the Federal judicial code to provide for the award of attorney's fees to the prevailing party in Federal civil diversity litigation. Specifies that such an attorney's fee shall be a reasonable fee attributable to the claim, calculated on the basis of an hourly rate which may not exceed that which the court considers acceptable in the community in which the attorney practices law, taking into account the attorney's qualifications and experience and the complexity of the case, subject to specified limitations. Permits the court to refuse to award an attorney's fee or to reduce the amount of a fee awarded to the extent that the court finds special circumstances that make an award of such a fee unjust or inequitable. (Sec. 3) Amends rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence to provide that: (1) testimony in the form of an opinion by a witness that is based on scientific knowledge shall be inadmissible in evidence unless the court determines that such opinion is scientifically valid and reliable, has a valid scientific connection to the fact it is offered to prove, and is sufficiently reliable so that the probative value of such evidence is not outweighed by the dangers of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence (but makes this provision inapplicable to criminal proceedings); and (2) testimony by a witness who is qualified is inadmissible in evidence if the witness is entitled to receive any compensation contingent on the legal disposition of any claim with respect to which the testimony is offered. (Sec. 4) Expresses the sense of the Congress that each State should require, under penalty of law, each attorney admitted to practice law in such State to disclose in writing to any client with whom the attorney has entered into a contingency fee agreement: (1) the actual services performed for the client in connection with such agreement; and (2) the precise number of hours actually expended by the attorney in the performance of such services. Amends rule 11(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require (currently, permit) the court to impose sanctions upon the attorneys, law firms, or parties that violate provisions regarding certain representations to the court (e.g., regarding frivolous lawsuits). Specifies that a sanction imposed for a violation of this rule: (1) shall be sufficient to deter repetition of such conduct or comparable conduct by others similarly situated and to compensate the parties that were injured by such conduct; and (2) may consist of an order to pay to the other party the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred as a direct result of the filing of the pleading, motion, or other paper that is the subject of the violation, including a reasonable attorney's fee. Repeals provisions making rule 11 (regarding the signing of pleadings, representations to the court, and sanctions) inapplicable to discovery. (Sec. 5) Requires the plaintiff, not less than 30 days before commencing a civil action in a U.S. district court, to transmit to the defendant a written statement specifying the particular claims alleged and the amount of damages claimed in the action. Requires the district court in which a civil action is commenced to dismiss the action with respect to a defendant, without prejudice, if: (1) not later than 60 days after the action is commenced, the defendant files a motion to dismiss the action on the basis that the plaintiff failed to comply with such requirement; and (2) the plaintiff fails to establish that he or she complied with such requirement before commencing the action. Lists exceptions to such notice requirement. Sets forth provisions regarding the statute of limitations.

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

Timeline

  1. 16 February 1995

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 16 February 1995

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 16 February 1995

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 23 February 1995

    Vote

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 12.

    Source: Committee

  5. 23 February 1995

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  6. 1 March 1995

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 34.

    Source: Calendars

  7. 1 March 1995

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 104-62.

    Source: Committee

  8. 1 March 1995

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 104-62.

    Source: Committee

  9. 3 March 1995

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 104 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 988 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 5-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. The bill shall be considered under the 5-minute rule for a period not to exceed 7 hours. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments.

    Source: Floor

  10. 6 March 1995

    Floor

    Mr. Moorhead moved that the Committee rise.

    Source: Floor

  11. 6 March 1995

    Floor

    The Speaker designated the Honorable David L. Hobson to act as Chairman of the Committee.

    Source: Floor

  12. 6 March 1995

    Floor

    Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 988 as unfinished business.

    Source: Floor

  13. 6 March 1995

    Passed

    On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

  14. 6 March 1995

    Floor

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 104 and Rule XXIII.

    Source: Floor

  15. 6 March 1995

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 988 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 5-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. The bill shall be considered under the 5-minute rule for a period not to exceed 7 hours. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments.

    Source: Floor

  16. 6 March 1995

    Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 104. (consideration: CR H2663-2703)

    Source: Floor

  17. 6 March 1995

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 104 passed House.

    Source: Floor

  18. 7 March 1995

    Floor

    Mr. Conyers moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.

    Source: Floor

  19. 7 March 1995

    Passed

    The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

    Source: Floor

  20. 7 March 1995

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

    Source: Floor

  21. 7 March 1995

    Floor

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 988.

    Source: Floor

  22. 7 March 1995

    Floor

    The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

    Source: Floor

  23. 7 March 1995

    Floor

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2735-2749)

    Source: Floor

  24. 7 March 1995

    Passed

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

    Source: Floor

  25. 7 March 1995

    Vote

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 232 - 193 (Roll no. 207).

    Source: Floor

  26. 7 March 1995

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 232 - 193 (Roll no. 207).

    Source: Floor

  27. 7 March 1995

    Failed

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by voice vote. (consideration: CR H2749)

    Source: Floor

  28. 7 March 1995

    Floor

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

    Source: Floor

  29. 7 March 1995

    Reported

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Conyers motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion require the bill to be reported back with an amendment to substitute the bill's "loser pays" provision with the "loser pays" provisions from H.R. 1058, Securities Litigation Reform.

    Source: Floor

  30. 9 March 1995

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate.

    Source: IntroReferral

  31. 10 March 1995

    Calendars

    Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

    Source: Calendars

  32. 15 March 1995

    Calendars

    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 28.

    Source: Calendars

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

12 official files

Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 15 March 1995

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 15 March 1995

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  • Received in Senate (text)

    Received in Senate · EN · 10 March 1995

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  • Received in Senate (PDF)

    Received in Senate · EN · 10 March 1995

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 7 March 1995

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 7 March 1995

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 7 March 1995

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 1 March 1995

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 1 March 1995

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 16 February 1995

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 16 February 1995

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 16 February 1995

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Sources

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