WASHINGTON (Feb. 11)—The Tire Industry Association and the Rubber Manufacturers Association were among the many business organizations applauding Senate passage of the Class Action Fairness Act.
The bill, which passed by a lopsided 72-26 vote, would require that class actions with multistate plaintiffs be heard in federal courts, thus ending "venue shopping" by plaintiffs' attorneys for state courts that favor plaintiffs.
"This is a great day for the business community, especially the tire industry," Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president, said in a release. "This is common-sense legal reform that is long overdue, and a significant step toward making the civil justice system more fair in this country," said a spokesman for the RMA.
The House is expected to expedite action on the bill, which is a top priority for the Bush administration.