Measure Limits Inmates’ Lawsuits

Lawsuits from federal prisoners over shoe brands, ice cream and other “frivolous” subjects will discouraged under a measure approved Friday by the Senate.

As an amendment to a spending bill, the Senate said inmates who file lawsuits will have to pay the full amount of their court fees.

Federal prison inmates filed 39,000 lawsuits last year, six times the number of 20 years ago. “The vast majority are completely without merit,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.