Freak

MOOD: infuriated

Bush signs bill to curb class-action suits




WASHINGTON (AP) -- As President Bush signed legislation Friday aimed at discouraging multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuits, he made clear he had his sights set on much broader restraints. Next up, Bush said, should be curbs on asbestos litigation and medical malpractice awards.

Even though businesses failed to get the measure to apply to suits already in the courts, the legislation was a victory for companies that have complained for decades that they have been dragged into far-flung local courts and subjected to massive, unwarranted jury awards.

Consumer groups contend that federal courts are much less sympathetic to - or even less likely to hear - class-action suits, which are a crucial tool against well-financed industries like tobacco, oil, pharmaceutical and others. As a result, Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron called it "legislation that makes it easier for corporations to evade responsibility for making right their wrongs." "President Bush once again demonstrated that the deep pockets of powerful corporate interests are more important to this administration than protecting the rights of ordinary Americans," Aron said in a statement.

In the nine-minute White House ceremony, Bush said a half-dozen times that the legislation was only a beginning in his drive to end "the lawsuit culture in our country."

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy