AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE for AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE

Transportation TRA

S. 453/ H.R. 873 (Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act); to improve the safety of motorcoaches, and for other purposes. (Competition for Intercity Passenger Rail in America), draft legislation not formally introduced as of 9-30-2011; specific interest in liability implications of Amtrak privitization. H.R. 1887 (Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act of 2011); specific interest in provisions relating to preemption of state based causes of action.

Contacted: Justice, Dept of (DOJ); SENATE; Office of the Vice President of the United States; Government Accountability Office (GAO); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: H.R. 873 (112th), H.R. 1887 (112th), S. 453 (112th)

Aviation/Airlines/Airports AVI

H.R. 658 (FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011); specific interest in provisions relating to immunity and disclosure of safety information. S. 223 (FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act); specific interest in provisions relating to immunity and disclosure of safety information. H.R.2553 (Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV); specific interest in proposals relating to immunity and disclosure of safety information. H.R.2887 (Surface and Air Transportation Programs Extension Act); specific interest in proposals relating to immunity and disclosure of safety information.

Contacted: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Government Accountability Office (GAO); White House Office; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Office of the Vice President of the United States; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); SENATE

Bills named: H.R. 658 (112th), S. 223 (112th), H.R. 2887 (112th), H.R. 2553 (112th)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Lobbying with regard to the deduction of attorney-advanced expenses and court costs in contigency fee cases.

Contacted: Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); White House Office; Office of the Vice President of the United States; Government Accountability Office (GAO); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Copyright/Patent/Trademark CPT

H.R. 1249 (America Invents Act); specific interest in provisions relating to venue for patent cases and false markings.

Contacted: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); SENATE; Government Accountability Office (GAO); Office of the Vice President of the United States; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); White House Office

Bills named: H.R. 1249 (112th)

Health Issues HCR

H.R. 1063 (Strengthening Medicare And Repaying Taxpayers Act of 2011); to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to the application of Medicare secondary payer rules for certain claims. Lobbying with regard to Medicare set-asides for claimant related medical expenses.

Contacted: White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Office of the Vice President of the United States; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: H.R. 1063 (112th)

Consumer Issues/Safety/Products CSP

H.R.1873/S. 987 (Arbitration Fairness Act); to prohibit mandatory binding arbitration in consumer contracts. (Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act), draft legislation not formally introduced as of 09-30-2011; relating to the use of arbitration agreements to resolve disputes involving nursing home care and nursing home contracts. H.R.2219 (Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2012); specific interest in the enforcability of mandatory pre-dispute arbitration provisions in the employment contracts of defense contractors. General lobbying on the issue of enforceability of mandatory, pre-disdpute arbitration provisions in employment and consumer contracts. (The Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act), draft legislation not formally introduced as of 09-30-2011; to require foreign manufacturers of products imported into the United States to establish registered agents in the United States who are authorized to accept service of process against such manufacturers, and for other purposes. Lobbying with regard to the preemption of state causes of action involving drug manufacturers. Lobbying with regard to corporate accountability for exposure to asbestos and other toxic substances; and with regard to asbestos bankruptcy trusts.

Contacted: Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); White House Office; SENATE; Government Accountability Office (GAO); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of the Vice President of the United States

Bills named: H.R. 1873 (112th), S. 987 (112th), H.R. 2219 (112th)

Homeland Security HOM

S. 968 (Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011); specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action. H.R. 2577 (SAFE Data Act); specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action. S. 813 (Cyber Security Public Awareness Act); specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action. S. 413 (Cybersecurity and Internet Freedom Act); specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action. (Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Authority and Information Sharing Act), draft legislation not formally introduced as of 09-30-2011; specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action. S. 1408 (Data Breach Notification Act); specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action; specific interest in amendments relating to the authority of State Attorneys General to hire private counsel. S. 1151 (Personal Data Privacy and Security Act); specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action; specific interest in amendments relating to the authority of State Attorneys General to hire private counsel. S. 1535 (Personal Data Protection and Breach Accountability Act); specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action; specific interest in amendments relating to the authority of State Attorneys General to hire private counsel. S. 1207 (Data Security and Breach Notification Act); specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action. H.R. 2577 (SAFE Data Act); specific interest in limitations of liability and preemption of state based causes of action.

Contacted: Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of the Vice President of the United States; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Government Accountability Office (GAO); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); SENATE; White House Office

Bills named: S. 1151 (112th), S. 968 (112th), S. 1207 (112th), S. 813 (112th), S. 1408 (112th), H.R. 2577 (112th), S. 413 (112th), S. 1535 (112th)

Government Issues GOV

S. 623/H.R. 592 (Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2011); relating to the use of protective orders, sealing of cases, and disclosure of discovery information in federal civil cases. H.R. 966/S. 533 (Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2011); to amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to make sanctions mandatory. Lobbying with regard to the restoration of notice pleading in federal courts. H.R. 394 (Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Venue Clarification Act); to clarify the jurisdiction of the federal courts, and for other purposes. S. 299/ H.R. 10 (Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011); to provide that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law. S. 1606/H.R. 3010 (Regulatory Accountability Act); to provide new requirements under that Administrative Procedure Act for major rules. Lobbying with regard to the Judicial Conference of the United States' proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Evidence. Lobbying with regard to certification of class actions. S. 1061/H.R. 1996 (Government Litigation Savings Act); to restrict the the award of fees and other expenses in cases brought against agencies of the United States under the Equal Access to Justice Act, and to require and make publically available certain data relating to awards under the Equal Access to Justice Act. (Protecting the Expression and Transmission of Ideas and Thoughts in Our Nation Act), draft bill not formally introduced as of 9-30-2011; to establish special motions and procedures to quickly dispose of strategic lawsuits against public participation. Lobbying with regard to federal judicial selection generally; not specific to any nominated candidate. Lobbying with regard to US attorney selection generally; not specific to any nominated candidate.

Contacted: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Government Accountability Office (GAO); White House Office; SENATE; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of the Vice President of the United States

Bills named: H.R. 394 (112th), H.R. 3010 (112th), H.R. 10 (112th), S. 623 (112th), S. 299 (112th), S. 1061 (112th), H.R. 966 (112th), H.R. 1996 (112th), H.R. 592 (112th), S. 533 (112th), S. 1606 (112th)

Torts TOR

S. 218/H.R. 5 (Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare Act of 2011); to set conditions for lawsuits arising from health care liability claims regarding health care goods or services or any medical product affecting interstate commerce. Lobbying with regard to medical malpractice reform proposals generally. H.R.963 (See Something, Say Something Act of 2011); to grant immunity from civil liability to persons who report suspicious activity indicating that an individual may be engaging in terrorism.

Contacted: Office of the Vice President of the United States; White House Office; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: S. 218 (112th), H.R. 963 (112th), H.R. 5 (112th)