Weekly Legislative Update
March 6, 2009

A look at what’s moving
Legislative floor action preview

Monday brought the most-recent legislative cut-off, which required that all bills necessary to implement a state budget must be out of their appropriation committee.  Now legislators are faced with the task of deciding which bills will receive a full vote of the respective legislative body. 

Unfortunately, a several bills opposed by the LRC are moving along the process.  Two bills to expand the state’s Consumer Protection Act (CPA), SB 5531 and HB 1683, are both slated for a vote in the Senate and House, respectively.  This is of great to concern to nearly all LRC members given the fact that many lawsuits filed by trial lawyers include a CPA claim (could it be because a successful CPA claims provides for recovery of plaintiffs’ lawyers attorney fees?).  These two measures increase the damages allowed under the CPA and make it even easier to file a CPA lawsuit. 

Also receiving favorable attention from lawmakers is SB 5895, a measure which increases contractor liability and puts a further burden on the already-expensive liability insurance market for contractors in Washington. 

The House and Senate will continue to debate legislation until March 12, when all bills must be out of their house of origin.  To see a complete list of the active LRC bills, click here.  

Disgraced class action law firm hires friendly judge

A Feb. 25 editorial in the Wall Street Journal offers the latest astounding machinations of the law firm that brought us now-imprisoned plaintiffs lawyers Bill Lerach and Mel Weiss and paid-for lead plaintiffs in ginned up securities class action litigation. 

Find out more about their newest employee.