Civil Justice Fairness Act

The Civil Justice Fairness Act (1996) was passed by the US Congress, but successfully vetoed by President Clinton. The act proposed to limit the amount of monetary compensation awardable in civil case to a maximum of either $250,000 or 300% of the economic damage caused by the defendant; whichever was greater. Opponents of this act argued that federal restrictions of this sort would illegally preempt state authority.