H.R. 420, 109th Congress, the Lawsuit
Abuse Reduction Act of 2005, was reported by the House Judiciary Committee on June 14, 2005
(H.Rept. 109-123), and passed by the House on October 27, 2005. H.R. 420 would
strengthen Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and would narrow the choice of venues
for personal injury actions, other than class actions, brought in state and federal courts. The bill's
Rule 11 provisions would apply to all civil actions, not just tort actions. Rule 11 provides for
sanctions against parties who file frivolous claims or defenses, or who file a paper for any improper
purpose.(1)