Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986

Summary

Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide certain limitations and procedures regarding civil damages in actions alleging negligence, strict or product liability, intentionally tortious conduct, or malpractice by a physician, accountant, lawyer, architect, engineer, or other professional. Requires that future damage awards exceeding $100,000 be made by periodic payments. Requires that damage awards be offset by an amount received as compensation for the same injury from other sources. Limits the amount of damages for noneconomic losses to $100,000. Establishes a contingency fee schedule for plaintiffs' attorneys. Permits the awarding of punitive damages only where the conduct of the defendant manifests a conscious disregard for safety. Provides that punitive damages awarded in any civil action to which this Act applies shall be paid to the clerk of the court and transmitted to the Treasurer of the United States, for the use of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Federal Judicial Center. Makes any attorney whose conduct is calculated for delay, or is found to be in bad faith, subject to pecuniary sanctions by the court.

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Timeline

1. 5 February 1986

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 5 February 1986

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 7 February 1986

   Committee

   Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Department of Justice and Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

   Source: Committee

4. 21 February 1986

   Committee

   Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.

   Source: Committee

5. 26 March 1986

   Committee

   Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 5 February 1986

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Wilson, Pete [R-CA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Hecht, Chic [R-NV] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Gramm, Phil [R-TX] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986
• amends ← To provide greater certainty in the availability and cost of liability insurance, to eliminate the abuses of the tort system, and for other purposes.