Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Bush Orders Changes to Cut Court Costs

President Bush announced that the government will adopt new procedures to decrease the time and costs of litigation and help curb an “out of control” legal system. He signed an executive order that covers how the government will handle civil suit matters ranging from stricter use of expert witnesses to greater efforts at out-of-court settlements. One element of Bush’s order directs federal agencies involved in litigation to adopt a “loser pays” rule in disputes with federal contractors, so that the loser of the suit pays part of the legal costs of the winner. The Administration says the United States has 70% of the world’s lawyers, and the number of suits filed in federal courts has risen over the past 30 years from 80,000 to more than 250,000.