WASHINGTON, D.C. – Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) President Rhett Dawson today hailed President Bush’s signing of the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 as the first major victory of the year for the tech industry, saying the law will curb frivolous lawsuits that stifle high-tech innovation.

 

“This victory has been a long time in the making, and we score it as the first success of the year for the tech community,” Dawson said.  “The fact is, the high costs of defending frivolous lawsuits are putting U.S. tech companies at a disadvantage relative to foreign producers,” Dawson said.  “By reducing class action abuses, we will become more competitive in the global technology market.”

 

Dawson said the bill’s passage into law would not have been possible without strong support from President Bush, the House and Senate leadership, and the bipartisan pro-high-tech coalition in Congress.

 

“This was truly a bipartisan effort to remove many of the roadblocks to innovation,” Dawson said. 

 

ITI plans to include the class action bill in its 109^th Congress High-Tech Voting Guide, the leading tool of the tech industry to measure Members' of Congress support for policies to grow the digital economy.  

 

The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 makes several important procedural changes to the class action legal system that will improve judicial efficiency, reduce legal transaction costs, and promote the fair, impartial and uniform administration of justice throughout the nation’s courts. 

 

ITI strongly supports the legislation because it will help tech companies to innovate within an environment of predictable and reasonable business risk.  

 

 

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) represents the leading U.S. providers of information technology products and services.  ITI is the voice of the high tech community, advocating policies that foster U.S. economic growth and job creation by advancing U.S. leadership in technology and innovation; expanding market access for IT products; protecting consumer privacy and choice; promoting e-commerce; and enhancing the global competitiveness of its member companies.

 

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