If Passed, Fairness In Class Action Litigation Act Of 2017 Would Significantly Curb The Ability Of Injured To Seek Compensation From Corporations That Have Caused Them Harm
The U.S. Senate could take up debate on the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017 when it returns from the holiday recess, Wright & Schulte LLC reports. HR 985, which would significantly curb the ability of injured consumers to seek redress via class action lawsuits and other collective legal actions, has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives without any public hearings. The bill not only failed to muster any Democratic support, it was also rejected by Republican members of the House Liberty Caucus.
“Our Firm has represented hundreds of plaintiffs who would never have been able to seek redress in the courts without the availability of class action lawsuits and mass tort proceedings. These types of collective actions level the playing field for injured parties who otherwise lack the financial resources to take on large, well-funded corporate interests,” says Richard W. Schulte, a founding partner of Wright & Schulte LLC, an experienced personal injury and mass torts law firm.
If you believe that all Americans should have the right to due process and the ability to seek potential compensation for injuries you sustained from medical device injuries, harmful drug side-effects and defective consumer products, the firm urges you to reach out to your senators and congressional representative to get your voice heard.
The Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017 imposes numerous requirements that would make it far more difficult for litigants to obtain class action status. For example, before a class can be certified, the Court would be required to find that putative class members suffered the same type and scope of injury as the proposed named class representatives.
Wright & Schulte LLC recently represented plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death claims involving C8 polluted drinking water associated with contamination from DuPont’s Washington Works manufacturing facility in Parkersburg, West Virginia. After losing several bellwether trials, defendants DuPont and Chemours agreed to pay $670 million to settle those claims. These individuals lawsuits were filed after a three-member scientific panel concluded that there were likely links between C8 exposure and certain human illnesses. That panel only existed because DuPont agreed to fund its work as part of a class action lawsuit settlement that was reached in 2005. (In Re: E.I. DuPont De Nemours and Company C-8 Personal Injury Litigation, MDL No. 2433)
“If H.R. 985 had been the law of the land when the original class action had been filed, certification would have been extremely difficult, as class members suffered a range of symptoms and ailments related to C-8 exposure,” Mr. Schulte said. “Because few – if any – of the class members involved in that action had the financial resources to take on DuPont individually, it’s doubtful that the litigation would have even been possible.”
The American Bar Association, the American Association of Justice, and Public Citizen are among numerous consumer advocacy groups standing in opposition to HR 985. Wright & Schulte LLP stands with them, and calls on the U.S. Senate to reject this attempt to place corporate interests over the public good.
About Wright & Schulte LLC And Class Action Lawsuits
Wright & Schulte LLC is an experienced personal injury firm, is dedicated to the belief that America’s legal system should work for the people. Every day, the attorneys of Wright Schulte LLC stand up for the rights of people who have been injured or wronged, and fight tirelessly to ensure that even the world’s most powerful corporations take responsibility for their actions. If you’re looking for a law firm that will guarantee the aggressive and personal representation you deserve, do not hesitate to contact Wright & Schulte LLC today. Free legal evaluations are available through yourlegalhelp.com, or call 1-888-399-0795.
