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HR 1492 105th Congress House Law Civil procedure Crime and Law Enforcement Evidence (Law) Fines (Penalties) Frivolous lawsuits Lawyers Legal assistance to prisoners Legal ethics Prisoners

Prisoners Frivolous Lawsuit Prevention Act of 1997

Introduced: April 30, 1997 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 5, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Apr 30, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 30, 1997
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Prisoners Frivolous Lawsuit Prevention Act of 1997 - Amends rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide that by presenting to the court a pleading, written motion, or other paper, an attorney or unrepresented party is certifying (among other things and subject to specified limitations) that the allegations and other factual contentions have evidentiary support, are made in a case involving a party other than a prisoner, and, if specifically so identified, are likely to have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery.

Directs the court, upon determining in a case involving a party who is a prisoner that provisions regarding improper representations to the court have been violated, to impose an appropriate sanction upon the attorneys, law firms, or parties responsible for the violation.

Specifies that a sanction imposed for a violation of this rule shall not be limited to what is sufficient to deter repetition of such conduct or comparable conduct by others similarly situated in a case involving a party who is a prisoner.

What's happening now May 5, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2