House Overwhelmingly Passes Class Action Reform—President Bush Expected to Sign Legislation

The House of Representatives overwhelming approved S. 5, The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 by a vote of 279 to 149 on Thursday. The class action reform legislation would restrict ‘forum shopping’ for plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions with little connection to the parties or to the defendant’s alleged misconduct, by shifting such cases from state to federal court. President Bush is expected to sign the measure into law on Friday.