After years of fruitless efforts to pass legislation to revise the rules for class-action lawsuits, Congress is on the brink of taking the first step in overhauling the civil liability system. Some industry sources claim the tort reforms could help types of businesses that are subject to frequent suits, including design and construction firms.
The Senate opened debate Feb. 7 on a measure that, if enacted, will shift the majority of class-action lawsuits to federal courts from state jurisdiction. "The process for getting a class action certified in federal court is more rigorous, which is why plaintiffs attorneys like state courts," says Steve Hall, the American Council of Engineering Companies vice president for government affairs.