President Bush issued an Executive Order today barring contigency fee arrangements with outside lawyers and expert witnesses who work on behalf of the U.S. government. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) calls the order "a major step forward in the fight to change America's out-of-control lawsuit climate." The ILR would like to see similar reform at the state level, in places such as Ohio.
I have not seen a response yet from the ILR's friends at the American Association for Justice, but I would be surprised if they do not have a contrary opinion on the matter.
UPDATE: Jon Haber, from the American Association for Justice, says that the Executive Order "removes from the federal government a powerful tool successfully used by state attorneys general to prosecute wrongdoers and hold them accountable in our courts." (From WSJ Law Blog).
I have not seen a response yet from the ILR's friends at the American Association for Justice, but I would be surprised if they do not have a contrary opinion on the matter.
UPDATE: Jon Haber, from the American Association for Justice, says that the Executive Order "removes from the federal government a powerful tool successfully used by state attorneys general to prosecute wrongdoers and hold them accountable in our courts." (From WSJ Law Blog).