Trial lawyer lobbying: Let the meme blossom
PointOfLaw Forum:
Walter’s post on lobbying by the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform prompts us to take another look at the American Association for Justice’s lobbying disclosure form for the 3rd quarter. The trial lawyers’ lobby lists lobbying expenses of $1.32 million for the quarter.
Like the Chamber’s ILR, the AAJ pursues legislation in many, many subject areas. Is there a unifying theme? You might describes its activities thusly: “The American Association for Justice, the chief lobbying organization for the nation’s trial lawyers, spent more than $1.3 million in the latest quarter trying to expand the legal grounds for suing business, government and individuals.
The trial lawyers’ lobby also continued its push for a $1.6 billion tax break for its attorney members, allowing them to deduct upfront the loans they extend to clients to keep help their lawsuits alive.”
Oh yes, it’s there. Page 17, the taxation category:
H.R. 6049 (Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act); specific interest in Section 311 of House-passed bill, regarding uniform treatment of attorney-advanced expenses and court costs in contingency fee cases; also specific interest in the same issue in versions of the bill in which the language of Section 311 was not included (e.g. S. 3335; Jobs, Energy, Families and Disaster Relief Act; and S. Amdt. 5633 and S. Amdt. 5635 to H.R. 6049; and H.R. 7060 and H.R. 7202).
This tax subsidy for trial lawyers was a big issue last spring (see Overlawyered), and it will surely return as a priority for the AAJ during the 111th Congress.
We’ve put the AAJ’s entire list of areas and legislation lobbied in the extended entry.
Copyright/Patent/Trademark
- H.R. 1908/S. 1145/S. 3600 (Patent Reform Act; specific interest in provisions relating to venue for patent cases, and damages.)
Consumer Issues/Safety/Products
- H.R. 3010/S. 1782 (Arbitration Fairness Act; to prohibit mandatory binding arbitration agreements in consumer contracts.)
- H.R.…