Number: RS20861
Title: Multipary, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 2002, P.L. 107-273
Authors: Paul Starett Wallace, Jr. and Mark Gurevitz, American Law Division 
Abstract: Congress enacted the Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 2002 as section 11020 of the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, P.L. 107-273, H.R. 2215. The Act allows the consolidation of causes of action growing out a single accident that involves the deaths of at least 75 individuals that might otherwise have been scattered in state and federal courts throughout the nation. Its provisions were gleaned almost entirely from section 3 of H.R. 860 the Multidistrict, Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act of 2001. H.R. 860 addressed two areas of concern. Both were designed to save the courts and litigants time and money. One was concerned with the consolidation of state and federal cases arising out of the same major accident. It dealt with the difficulties associated with avoiding multiple trials involving the same issues and many of the same parties. The other, omitted from the Act, involved the consolidation of federal (but not state) cases involving essentially the same issues and parties (but not limited to a major accident). It dealt with the question of who should decide where cases, transferred to a single court for pre-trial purposes, should ultimately be tried.
Pages: 5
Date: December 10, 2002