Consumer Review Freedom Act of 2014

General lobbying with regard to proposed revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. General lobbying with regard to clarifying state and federal court jurisdiction in certain cases. S. 401/H.R. 758 (Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2015); amends Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to make sanctions mandatory. General lobbying with regard to federal judicial selection generally, except specific lobbying with regard to the nomination of Clare Connors. S.__/H.R.__ (PETITION Act); not formally introduced as of 07-17-2015; protects first amendment rights of petition and free speech; specific interest in changes to federal procedural rules that would have an impact on civil litigation. H.R. 3897; amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to strengthen the rules for approved structured settlement factoring transactions. H.R. 3699 (Structured Settlement Claimants Rights Act); protects the right of a claimant in a civil action before a Federal court to retain a structured settlement broker to negotiate the terms of payment of an award. General lobbying with regard to the Equal Access to Justice Act. S. 2364/H.R. 4361 (Sunshine in Litigation Act); amends Chapter 111 of Title 28, United States Code, relating to protective orders, sealing of cases, disclosures of discovery information in civil actions, and for other purposes. H.R. 4624 (Fair Debt Collection Practices Clarification Act); amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act of prohibit a court from making an award of costs to a defendant except on a finding that an action was brought in bad faith. S. 2267 (Defend Trade Secrets Act); modifies Chapter 90 of Title 18, United States Code, to provide Federal jurisdiction for theft of trade secrets. H.R. 5499 (Consumer Review Freedom Act); prohibits contracts that prohibit consumers from making certain public comments on businesses. H.R. 5088 (Responsive and Efficient Appeals Courts for Heroes Act of 2014); amends Title 38, United States Code, to establish procedures for class actions at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and for other purposes. S. 2769; ensures appropriate judicial review of Federal Government actions by amending the prohibition on the exercise of jurisdiction by the United States Court of Federal Claims of certain claims pending in other courts. H.R. 185 (Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015); amends the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), which is the law that governs how federal agencies propose and establish regulations. S. 226/ H.R. 427 (REINS Act); provides that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law. S 543/H.R. 1029 (EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015); amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to revise the process of selecting members of the Science Advisory Board, guidelines for participation in Board advisory activities, and terms of office. S.Con.Res.11; An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025. S.Amdt.925,to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to the United States civil courts system S.Amdt.861,to create a spending-neutral fund relating to equalizing the treatment of attorney's fees under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Equal Access to Justice Act. S.Amdt.412,to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from engaging in closed-door settlement agreements that ignore impacted States and counties. S.Amdt.847,to make available all information on settlement agreements. S.Amdt.369,to establish deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to the establishment of bipartisan commissions to govern independent agencies. S.Amdt.886,to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to ensure accountability and transparency at the consumer financial protection bureau. S.Amdt.390, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to regulatory review. S.Amdt.408, to create a spending-neutral reserve fund to reform the federal motor-carrier safety administration. S.Amdt.564, to establish a spending-neutral reserve fund relating to budgeting regulatory promulgation. S.Amdt.625, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Federal regulatory process. S.Amdt.654, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to reforming regulatory practices for executive agencies. S.Amdt.772, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to ensure public comments are utilized more effectively in the rulemaking process. S.Amdt.827, to establish a spending-neutral reserve fund relating to reforming the federal regulatory process. H.R. 1927 (Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2015); amends the federal judicial code to prohibit federal courts from certifying any proposed class unless the party seeking to maintain a class action affirmatively demonstrates through admissible evidentiary proof that each proposed class member suffered an injury of the same type and extent as the injury of the named class representatives. S. 1113; amends title 28, United States Code, to remand certain civil actions transferred by the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation. H.R. 1579 (ALERT Act of 2015); amends title 5, united States Code, to provide for the publication, by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, of information relating to rulemakings H.R. 2775 (Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2015); grants States authority to enforce State and local sales and use tax laws on remote transactions. H.R. 2250/S. __ (Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2016); making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016. H.R. 2578/S. __ (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016); making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016.

Client expense: $1,410,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE

General lobbying with regard to proposed revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. General lobbying with regard to clarifying state and federal court jurisdiction in certain cases. S. 401/H.R. 758 (Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2015); amends Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to make sanctions mandatory. General lobbying with regard to federal judicial selection generally, not specific to any nominated candidate. S.__/H.R.__ (PETITION Act); not formally introduced as of 04-17-2015; protects first amendment rights of petition and free speech; specific interest in changes to federal procedural rules that would have an impact on civil litigation. H.R. 3897; amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to strengthen the rules for approved structured settlement factoring transactions. H.R. 3699 (Structured Settlement Claimants Rights Act); protects the right of a claimant in a civil action before a Federal court to retain a structured settlement broker to negotiate the terms of payment of an award. General lobbying with regard to the Equal Access to Justice Act. S. 2364/H.R. 4361 (Sunshine in Litigation Act); amends Chapter 111 of Title 28, United States Code, relating to protective orders, sealing of cases, disclosures of discovery information in civil actions, and for other purposes. H.R. 4624 (Fair Debt Collection Practices Clarification Act); amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act of prohibit a court from making an award of costs to a defendant except on a finding that an action was brought in bad faith. S. 2267 (Defend Trade Secrets Act); modifies Chapter 90 of Title 18, United States Code, to provide Federal jurisdiction for theft of trade secrets. H.R. 5499 (Consumer Review Freedom Act); prohibits contracts that prohibit consumers from making certain public comments on businesses. H.R. 5088 (Responsive and Efficient Appeals Courts for Heroes Act of 2014); amends Title 38, United States Code, to establish procedures for class actions at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and for other purposes. S. 2769; ensures appropriate judicial review of Federal Government actions by amending the prohibition on the exercise of jurisdiction by the United States Court of Federal Claims of certain claims pending in other courts. H.R. 185 (Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015); amends the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), which is the law that governs how federal agencies propose and establish regulations. S. 226/ H.R. 427 (REINS Act); provides that major rules of the executive branch shall have no force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law. S 543/H.R. 1029 (EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015); amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to revise the process of selecting members of the Science Advisory Board, guidelines for participation in Board advisory activities, and terms of office. S.Con.Res.11; An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2017 through 2025. S.Amdt.925,to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to the United States civil courts system S.Amdt.861,to create a spending-neutral fund relating to equalizing the treatment of attorney's fees under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Equal Access to Justice Act. S.Amdt.412,to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service from engaging in closed-door settlement agreements that ignore impacted States and counties. S.Amdt.847,to make available all information on settlement agreements. S.Amdt.369,to establish deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to the establishment of bipartisan commissions to govern independent agencies. S.Amdt.886,to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to ensure accountability and transparency at the consumer financial protection bureau. S.Amdt.390, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to regulatory review. S.Amdt.408, to create a spending-neutral reserve fund to reform the federal motor-carrier safety administration. S.Amdt.564, to establish a spending-neutral reserve fund relating to budgeting regulatory promulgation. S.Amdt.625, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Federal regulatory process. S.Amdt.654, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to reforming regulatory practices for executive agencies. S.Amdt.772, to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to ensure public comments are utilized more effectively in the rulemaking process. S.Amdt.827, to establish a spending-neutral reserve fund relating to reforming the federal regulatory process.

Client expense: $1,370,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Education, Dept of, Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

General lobbying with regard to proposed revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. General lobbying with regard to clarifying state and federal court jurisdiction in certain cases.H.R. 2655/S. 1288 (Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2013); to amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to make sanctions mandatory. General lobbying with regard to federal judicial selection generally, not specific to any nominated candidate; except specific lobbying with regard to the nominations of Victor Bolden, Leslie Joyce Abrahms, Leigh Martin May, Pam Pepper, and Stephen Bough. (PETITION Act), not formally introduced as of 12-31-2014; to protect first amendment rights of petition and free speech; specific interest in changes to federal procedural rules that would have an impact on civil litigation. H.R. 3897 (no short title); to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to strengthen the rules for approved structured settlement factoring transactions. H.R. 3699 (Structured Settlement Claimants Rights Act); to protect the right of a claimant in a civil action before a Federal court to retain a structured settlement broker to negotiate the terms of payment of an award. General lobbying with regard to the Equal Access to Justice Act. S.2364/H.R. 4361 (Sunshine in Litigation Act); to amend chapter 111 of title 28, United States Code, relating to protective orders, sealing of cases, disclosures of discovery information in civil actions, and for other purposes. HR 4624 (Fair Debt Collections Practices Clarification Act of 2014); to amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to prohibit a court from making an award of costs to a defendant except on a finding that an action was brought in bad faith. S. 2267 (Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2014); to modify chapter 90 of title 18, United States Code, to provide Federal jurisdiction for theft of trade secrets. H.R.5499 (Consumer Review Freedom Act of 2014); to prohibit contracts that prohibit consumers from making certain public comments on businesses. H.R. 5088. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish procedures for class actions at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs S.2769; To ensure appropriate judicial review of Federal Government actions by amending the prohibition on the exercise of jurisdiction by the United States Court of Federal Claims of certain claims pending in other courts. H.R. 2122 (Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013) would amend the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), which is the law that governs how federal agencies propose and establish regulations. Enacting this legislation would codify many practices aimed at increasing regulatory transparency and accountability that are currently required under several executive orders.

Client expense: $890,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE