Bell Atlantic Corp. V. Twombly - Legislative Reaction

Legislative Reaction

On July 22, 2009, Senator Arlen Specter introduced the "Notice Pleading Restoration Act of 2009", which provides:

Except as otherwise expressly provided by an Act of Congress or by an amendment to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure which takes effect after the date of enactment of this Act, a Federal court shall not dismiss a complaint under rule 12(b)(6) or (e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, except under the standards set forth by the Supreme Court of the United States in Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41 (1957).4

A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives shortly thereafter entitled the "Open Access to Courts Act of 2009", which provides:

A court shall not dismiss a complaint under subdivision (b)(6), (c) or (e) of Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the claim which would entitle the plaintiff to relief. A court shall not dismiss a complaint under one of those subdivisions on the basis of a determination by the judge that the factual contents of the complaint do not show the plaintiff's claim to be plausible or are insufficient to warrant a reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.

Neither bill became law.

Read more about this topic:  Bell Atlantic Corp. V. Twombly

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