2017: Fitzpatrick Voted To Permit Federal Class-Action Lawsuits Only
If Every Person In The Class Suffered The Same Type And Scope Of
Injury. In March 2017, Fitzpatrick voted for the Fairness in Class
Action Litigation Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, the
legislation would have "prohibit[ed] federal courts from certifying
proposed classes of individuals for a class-action lawsuit unless each
member of the class has suffered the same type and degree of injury.
Additionally, the bill would [have] require[d] asbestos trusts to
issue quarterly reports on claims made against the trusts and payouts
made by the trusts for asbestos-related injuries." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220 to 201. The Senate
took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 148,
3/9/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/9/17; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
985]