Senate puts class-action reform on fast track.

National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management, January, 2005 by Postal, Arthur D.

THE WAY WAS APPARENTLY cleared last week for prompt passage of class-action reform within two weeks by the U.S. Senate--the traditional bottleneck for the insurance industry's long-sought legislative relief. That was the implication of the announcement by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., to hold a markup on such legislation Feb.

3 and to delay introduction until this week of a bill that would establish an alternative claims processing system for those injured by exposure to asbestos in the workplace. (See related story on this page.) Sen. Specter's comments followed by one day remarks by Senate Majority Leader William Frist, R-Tenn., that he wants a vote on class-action reform legislation on the Senate floor the week of Feb. 7. David Winston, senior vice...

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