A recent BLT Blog post, “Chamber’s Legal Arm Sees Uptick in Lobbying” reports that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform is spending more money lobbying the federal government, according to a disclosure report filed Thursday.  The business-back group spent $6.03 million on in-house federal lobbying during the first three months of 2011, compared to $5.64 million during the same period last year.

The rise occurred as the group lobbied on a wide array of issues, including a bill designed to cap attorney fees in medical malpractice cases.  Section 5 of the legislation, H.R. 5, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011 would impose limits on contingent fees that range from 40% of the plaintiff’s recovery up to $50,000 to a maximum of 15% of any recovery over $600,000.  For more information, visit “Attorney Fees Come Under Attack From House Republicans.”

The House also voted to stop payments of attorney fees to prevailing litigants in lawsuits filed against the federal government.  Under the Equal Access of Justice Act (EAJA) of 1980, individuals, small businesses, non-profits, and others can collect attorney fees from the federal government if they prevail in a case and meet certain other requirements, such as a falling below a net worth ceiling.  For more information, visit “House Votes to Cut Off Attorney Fees Under EAJA.”