Lawsuit fees take on new meaning following recent harassment allegations

Things have changed since lawmakers last met.

A bill approved last session by the House Civil Law and Data Practices Policy Committee, HF923, has taken on new meaning since two legislators resigned last fall after sexual harassment accusations. The bill would cap the amount of attorney fees someone can collect after turning down a settlement and taking a case to trial – allowing the person to collect attorney’s fees up to the point of the rejected settlement.

“Sometimes what people want is for behavior to change, not money,” Rep. Debra Hilstrom (DFL-Brooklyn Center) said.

The committee laid the bill over for future discussion after orally amending its effective date. Its sponsor, Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-St. Cloud), wasn’t at the meeting.

Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover), the committee chair, first pushed to have the bill sent to the House Floor, and amended there, but conceded it would be better to invite Knoblach back to explain the bill’s intent.

The bill was awaiting action by the full House at the end of last session, but, per the state constitution, it was returned to the committee once the 2017 session ended.

“The implications of sexual harassment that we’ve seen over the course of the last six months are far reaching,” Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul) said. “It has, I think, adverse consequences for the development of how we approach sexual harassment.

“They don’t want a pay day,” Lesch said. “They’re frustrated.”

Rep. Bob Loonan (R-Shakopee) told the committee the last time it discussed the bill, it was in reference to discrimination lawsuits.

A companion, SF1210, is sponsored by Sen. Jerry Relph (R-St. Cloud) and awaits action in the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.