WASHINGTON, May 16 LAWFUEL – The Law Newswire — Statement of Lisa A.
Rickard, President of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, upon
President Bush signing an Executive Order barring all contingency fee
arrangements with outside plaintiffs’ lawyers and expert witnesses who work on behalf of the United States Government:
“Today’s Executive Order banning contingency fee arrangements for
outside trial lawyers and expert witnesses who work on behalf of the U.S.
Government is a major step forward in the fight to change America’s
out-of-control lawsuit climate.
“No lawyer or expert witness should be able to pocket millions of
dollars simply because he or she has the government as a client. These
contingency fee arrangements create a perverse incentive, by combining the
power of the government with the personal financial interest of some
plaintiffs’ lawyers. Too often the result is millions of dollars of a
government settlement or judgment going to trial lawyers, instead of
victims.
“The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform has made eliminating
government contingency fee arrangements a primary issue with state
attorneys general, many of whom allow outside trial lawyers to sue on
behalf of the state in speculative lawsuits.
“The Bush Administration’s Executive Order today should serve as an
example for state governors and attorneys general to follow.”
The mission of the Institute for Legal Reform is to make America’s
legal system simpler, fairer, and faster for everyone. It seeks to promote
civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and
educational activities at the national, state, and local levels. The U.S.
Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation,
representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every
size, sector, and region.
SOURCE U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform
