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Senate Judiciary Committee rejects ‘junk lawsuit’ bill aimed at pharmacy discount-card suits
Summary
Senate Bill 441, sponsored by Sen. Barr Hester and amended to limit retroactivity, failed after extended debate over consumer protections, attorney fees and retroactive effect on ongoing litigation.
Senate Bill 441, the "Junk Lawsuit Prevention Act," failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee after senators voted against moving the amended bill forward.
The bill, presented by Sen. Barr Hester, would have removed certain consumer-protection remedies for alleged violations tied to pharmacy discount cards and added a 30-day notice-and-cure provision; an amendment narrowed the bill’s retroactivity to Jan. 1, 2021. Hester described the measure as a way to prevent out-of-state law firms from bringing large numbers of suits he characterized as “parasitic,” saying the suits raise costs for Arkansas businesses and consumers.
Supporters in the room portrayed the bill as protecting local businesses and reducing litigation they view as opportunistic.…
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