Andrew Kitchenman | NJBIZ

The bill, A-894, is one of the key pieces of the New Jersey Lawsuit Reform Alliance this year. The Assembly Judiciary Committee released the measure May 21. Currently, companies must ask a lower-court judge for the ability to appeal a class-action determination to the Appellate Division.

A bill allowing companies to directly appeal the determination that a class exists for a class-action lawsuit advanced in the Assembly this spring.

The bill, A-894, is one of the key pieces of the New Jersey Lawsuit Reform Alliance this year. The Assembly Judiciary Committee released the measure May 21. Currently, companies must ask a lower-court judge for the ability to appeal a class-action determination to the Appellate Division.

Alliance Executive Director Marcus Rayner has touted the bill as a way to promote efficiency, while critics say it will allow companies to delay legal cases by making appeals easier.

While tort-reform advocates were hopeful about advancing their agenda heading into 2012, their optimism has been met with skepticism by plaintiff attorneys. These lawyers have noted the difficulty tort reform has had in gaining Democratic legislative sponsors in one or both houses.

The measure has primary sponsors from both parties in the Assembly: Assemblyman Gary R. Chiusano (R-Sparta) and Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski (D-Sayreville).

Rayner said he is working to have a Senate sponsor for the class-action appeal bill.

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