Skip to main content
S 2062 108th Congress Senate Law Appellate courts Appellate procedure Bank holding companies Charitable contributions Class actions (Civil procedure) Commerce Congress Congressional reporting requirements Damages District courts Evidence (Law) Expert witnesses Finance and Financial Sector Foreign Trade and International Finance Foreign banks and banking Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Injunctions Judicial opinions

Class Action Fairness Act of 2004

Introduced: February 10, 2004 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 13 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 8, 2004
Cloture not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 44 - 43. Record Vote Number: 154. (consideration: CR S7818-7819)
Jul 8, 2004
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7782-7819)
Jul 7, 2004
Cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate.
Jul 7, 2004
Motion by Senator Frist to commit to Senate Committee on the Judiciary with instructions that the Committee report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3550) made in Senate.
Jul 7, 2004
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7697-7743)
Jul 6, 2004
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7563-7570)
Jun 1, 2004
Cloture motion withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
May 21, 2004
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
May 21, 2004
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S6250)
May 21, 2004
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S6249-6250)
Feb 11, 2004
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 430.
Feb 10, 2004
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Feb 10, 2004
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Class Action Fairness Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal judicial code to specify the calculation of contingent and other attorney's fees in proposed class action settlements that provide for the award of coupons to class members.

Prohibits a Federal district court from approving: (1) a proposed coupon settlement absent a finding that the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate; (2) a proposed settlement involving payments to class counsel that would result in a net monetary loss to class members, absent a finding that the loss is substantially outweighed by nonmonetary benefits; or (3) a proposed settlement that provides greater sums to some class members solely because they are closer geographically to the court.

Specifies requirements for notices of proposed settlements.

Grants district courts original jurisdiction of any civil action in which the matter in controversy exceeds $5 million, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between citizens of different States, or citizens of a State and a foreign State or its citizens or subjects.

Lists those factors pursuant to which a district court may decline to exercise jurisdiction over a class action, and specifies those circumstances in which a district court must decline jurisdiction.

Sets forth provisions governing the removal of interstate class actions to Federal district court and the review on appeal of remand orders.

Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to report on class action settlements, incorporating recommendations for best court practices to ensure fairness for class members and appropriate fees for counsel.

What's happening now July 8, 2004

Cloture not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 44 - 43. Record Vote Number: 154. (consideration: CR S7818-7819)