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Comment by strictnein | Hacker News Reader

Yes, like most of the rest of the world.

But the trial lawyers send tons of money to one of the parties, so our current legal system stays in place.

That's correct. The Republican party has been trying to pass a loser pays system since the early 1990s at least, when they included it in their so called "Contract with America."

The fear mongering has been going on ever since:

http://reason.com/archives/1995/06/01/civil-suits

Relevant portion from the Wikipedia article on "Contract with America."

> An act to institute "Loser pays" laws (H.R.988, passed 232-193, March 7, 1995), limits on punitive damages and weakening of product-liability laws to prevent what the bill considered frivolous litigation (H.R.956, passed 265-161, March 10, 1995; passed Senate 61-37, May 11, 1995, vetoed by President Clinton [2]). Another tort reform bill, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act was enacted in 1995 when Congress overrode a veto by Clinton.

I recall an 8 year stretch during that period when the Republican party held the presidency, and longer periods when they have controlled the house. It doesn't seem to be an especially high priority for them.

The blocker was always the Senate when Republican presidents were in power.

Well, except for 2002-2006 when the Republicans controlled all three branches.

They only had a simple majority in the Senate.

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