Decent ProposalAs bogus lawsuits continue to rise, Congress fights to keep entrepreneurs out of court.

Is there anything more infuriating than a greedy lawyer draggingsome innocent small business into court? Take the case in LongIsland, New York, where a drunk driver hit a drunk jaywalker on herway to another watering hole. The pedestrian suffered a braininjury and sued the car rental company, a small business, whichsettled for $8.5 million.

That's one example offered by Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-MI) insupport of his Small Business Liability Reform Act (S.1185),co-sponsored by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT). "Smallbusinesses are particularly vulnerable to lawsuit abuse and find itdifficult to bear the cost of defending themselves against unfairlitigation," says Abraham, who is a member of the SenateJudiciary Committee, where the bill has been referred.