The House of Representatives has approved a bill raising the threshold for individuals or groups to bring legal claims against companies in consumer disputes, employment discrimination cases, and other areas. The bill would require individuals seeking to form a legal class to show that each suffered the same type and magnitude of personal injury or economic loss as the group’s leader.

Supporters of the bill say it is necessary to combat the abuses in class action lawsuits that often result in large sums of money for lawyers. Opponents, such as consumer groups and civil rights advocates, argue the bill penalizes those who have been mistreated by companies, reports CBS News. Full Story