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S 2046 99th Congress Senate

Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986

Official title: A bill to provide limits and procedures in certain civil cases.

Introduced: February 5, 1986 Introduced by: McConnell, Mitch Republican · Kentucky See on congress.gov
Law AccountingArchitectsCivil actions and liabilityCivil procedure
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Consumer protectionCourts and Civil ProcedureDamagesEngineersLawyers and legal servicesLegal ethicsLegal feesMalpracticeMedical personnelNegligenceProducts liabilityTortsWarranties
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This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 26, 1986
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.
Feb 21, 1986
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.
Feb 7, 1986
Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Department of Justice and Administrative Office of the United States Courts.
Feb 5, 1986
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Feb 5, 1986
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 2,007 McConnell, Mitch To provide greater certainty in the availability and cost of liability insurance, to eliminate the abuses of … Pending Jun 5, 1986
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 Latest action March 26, 1986

Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide certain limitations and procedures regarding civil damages in actions alleging negligence, strict or product liability, intentionally tortious conduct, or malpractice by a physician, accountant, lawyer, architect, engineer, or other professional.

Requires that future damage awards exceeding $100,000 be made by periodic payments. Requires that damage awards be offset by an amount received as compensation for the same injury from other sources. Limits the amount of damages for noneconomic losses to $100,000. Establishes a contingency fee schedule for plaintiffs' attorneys.

Permits the awarding of punitive damages only where the conduct of the defendant manifests a conscious disregard for safety. Provides that punitive damages awarded in any civil action to which this Act applies shall be paid to the clerk of the court and transmitted to the Treasurer of the United States, for the use of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Federal Judicial Center.

Makes any attorney whose conduct is calculated for delay, or is found to be in bad faith, subject to pecuniary sanctions by the court.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 4385 Identical bill Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986
 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2046: Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-2046/
MLA
"S. 2046: Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-2046/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2046, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-2046/.
Markdown link
[S. 2046: Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-2046/)
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