Small Business Lawsuit Abuse Protection Act of 1997

Summary

Small Business Lawsuit Abuse Protection Act of 1997 - Provides that, in any civil action against a small business (fewer than 25 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.

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

Timeline

1. 5 June 1997

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 5 June 1997

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5346-5349)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 5 June 1997

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 15 May 1998

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Oversight and Courts.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 5 June 1997 · Download file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 5 June 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 5 June 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 5 June 1997

  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

• Sen. Abraham, Spencer [R-MI] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Coverdell, Paul [R-GA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Ashcroft, John [R-MO] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Helms, Jesse [R-NC] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Allard, Wayne [R-CO] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing

Related records

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