IB 
Union Calendar No. 4 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 720 
[Report No. 115–16] 
To amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to improve 
attorney accountability, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 30, 2017 
Mr. SMITH of Texas (for himself, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. BUCK, Mr. FRANKS 
of Arizona, Mr. FARENTHOLD, Mr. CHABOT, and Mr. CHAFFETZ) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary 
FEBRUARY 24, 2017 
Additional sponsor: Mr. SESSIONS 
FEBRUARY 24, 2017 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 24, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H720.RH
H720
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
A BILL 
To amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 
to improve attorney accountability, and for other purposes. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 24, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H720.RH
H720
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Lawsuit Abuse Reduc-
tion Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. ATTORNEY ACCOUNTABILITY. 
(a) SANCTIONS UNDER RULE 11.—Rule 11(c) of the 
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘may’’ and in-
serting ‘‘shall’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Rule 5’’ and 
all that follows through ‘‘motion.’’ and inserting 
‘‘Rule 5.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘situated’’ 
and all that follows through the end of the para-
graph and inserting ‘‘situated, and to compensate 
the parties that were injured by such conduct. Sub-
ject to the limitations in paragraph (5), the sanction 
shall consist of an order to pay to the party or par-
ties the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred 
as a direct result of the violation, including reason-
able attorneys’ fees and costs. The court may also 
impose additional appropriate sanctions, such as 
striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, or other 
directives of a non-monetary nature, or, if warranted 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 24, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H720.RH
H720
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
for effective deterrence, an order directing payment 
of a penalty into the court.’’. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 
or an amendment made by this Act shall be construed to 
bar or impede the assertion or development of new claims, 
defenses, or remedies under Federal, State, or local laws, 
including civil rights laws, or under the Constitution of 
the United States. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 24, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H720.RH
H720
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 24, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H720.RH
H720
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 4 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 720 
[Report No. 115–16] 
A BILL 
To amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil 
Procedure to improve attorney accountability, 
and for other purposes. 
FEBRUARY 24, 2017 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:44 Feb 24, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6651
Sfmt 6651
E:\BILLS\H720.RH
H720
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS