United States 115th Congress Status: Passed House 8 R cosponsors

HR 720 — Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

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

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

The bill amends attorney accountability rules in federal civil procedure.

This bill changes Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to make attorney sanctions mandatory for certain violations. It aims to improve accountability by requiring courts to order payment of reasonable expenses incurred due to violations.

Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question. The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets. Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

5 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill HR 720 was received by the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The text indicates that the reference in the Senate is a new addition, while the previous reference to the House version of the bill has been removed. This change marks the transition of the bill from the House to the Senate for further consideration.

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720 Engrossed in House (EH)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
720 Referred in Senate (RFS)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
720 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to improve attorney accountability, and for other purposes.
720 _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 13, 2017 Received;
read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to improve attorney accountability, and for other purposes.
Clerk.
KAREN L.
115th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
HAAS, Clerk.
R.
720 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to improve attorney accountability, and for other purposes.
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Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

  5. Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-16.

  6. Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-16.

  7. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 4.

  8. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 180. (consideration: CR H2025-2041)

  9. Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 720 and H.R. 985.

  10. House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 180 and Rule XVIII.

  11. The Speaker designated the Honorable Evan H. Jenkins to act as Chairman of the Committee.

  12. GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 720.

  13. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Soto Part A amendment No. 1.

  14. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Soto amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Soto demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  15. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Part A amendment No. 2.

  16. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  17. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Conyers Part A amendment No. 3.

  18. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Conyers amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Conyers demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  19. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jeffries Part A amendment No. 4.

  20. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jeffries amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Jeffries demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

  22. The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 720.

  23. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  24. Ms. Lofgren moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2039)

  25. DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back with an amendment to add a section at the end of the bill prohibiting language to be construed to apply to a civil action that implicates the foreign emoluments clause of the United States Constitution.

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

  27. On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 186 - 232 (Roll no. 157).

  28. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 188 (Roll no. 158).(text: CR H2030)

  29. On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 188 (Roll no. 158). (text: CR H2030)

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

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

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 539 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (539)

539 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 539 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 720 do?
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question. The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets. Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.
Who sponsors HR 720?
HR 720 is sponsored by Goodlatte, Bob (Republican), Buck, Ken (Republican), Franks, Trent (Republican), Farenthold, Blake (Republican), Chabot, Steve (Republican), Chaffetz, Jason (Republican), Sessions, Pete (Republican), and Smith, Lamar (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 720?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 720?
Track HR 720 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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