The Senate has approved a measure that will limit the ability of people to file class-action lawsuits against companies. The measure is expected to curb class action lawsuits because it would transfer them to federal courts, which are constrained by a series of legal precedents from considering large class actions that involve varying laws of different states. Business groups say this legislation is necessary to cutback on frivolous lawsuits.
See "Senate Approves Measure to Curb Big Class Actions", Stephen Labaton, The New York Times, February 10, 2005