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This bill would reinstate punishments for attorneys, law firms, and parties involved in frivolous lawsuits filed in federal court. In general, a \"frivolous\" lawsuit is considered to have no basis in fact or existing law and has been filed simply to harass a defendant.

Specifically, it would restore sanctions covered by Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Under current law, courts can, but are not required to, impose such sanctions intended to deter frivolous lawsuits.

If passed, this bill directs Judges to put monetary sanctions on lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits. These sanctions could include attorney’s fees and the costs incurred by the victim of the frivolous lawsuit. The court could also deal with the problem by dismissing the case or striking the pleadings.

This bill would also remove an amendment to Rule 11 that currently allows parties and their attorneys to avoid sanctions if they withdraw or correct their frivolous lawsuit within 21 days of filing.

","official_title":"To amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to improve attorney accountability, and for other purposes.","short_title":"Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)\n\nLawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017\n\n(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.\n\nThe 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that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets.\n\nCourts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"","impact":"","argument_for":"Frivolous lawsuits cost the U.S. billions of dollars and diminish the public’s faith in the legal system. 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Do Federal Courts Need to be More Active Against Frivolous Lawsuits?