Catalyst Theory Restoration Act of 2018

Bill: 115-hr-5656
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]
Introduced: 2018-04-27
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Administrative remedies

Civil actions and liability

Judicial procedure and administration

Legal fees and court costs
Latest action: action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-04-27
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p> <p><b>Catalyst Theory Restoration Act of 2018 </b> <p>This bill defines the term &quot;prevailing party&quot; for purposes of determining an award of attorney's fees against the federal government in judicial or administrative proceedings. <p>Specifically, a prevailing party includes a party whose claim or defense motivates (i.e., catalyzes) the opposing party to voluntarily provide a significant part of the relief sought.

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5656 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 27, 2018 Mr. Cartwright introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To clarify the meaning of the term prevailing party with regard to the recovery of attorneys' fees.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Catalyst Theory Restoration Act of 2018 . 2. In general (a) Meaning of prevailing party In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various departments and agencies of the United States, or of any judicial or administrative rule, which provides for recovery of attorneys' fees, the term prevailing party shall include a party whose pursuit of a nonfrivolous claim or defense was a catalyst for a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party that provides any significant part of the relief sought. (b) Rule of construction This section shall not alter special eligibility criteria established for prevailing defendants nor alter any specific eligibility criteria contained in any statute that expressly limits or qualifies who may be considered a prevailing party for purposes of that statute.