[JURIST] Lawmakers and interest groups reacted swiftly Thursday to US Senate passage [JURIST report] of the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 [bill summary], Leading House Republicans hailed the Senate vote [DeLay, Sensenbrenner and Goodlatte press release] and welcomed the opportunity to take up the bill in the House next week. The US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform [official website] similarly praised the passage of the bill [press release], claiming that the "Senate has taken a critical step toward granting families, consumers and employers relief from the heavy burden of lawsuit abuse." The American Trial Laywers Association [profession website] on the other hand criticized the legislation as "a shameful attack on Americans' legal rights." ATLA argues that the bill essentially insulates large companies from liability for wrongdoing by restricting the legal options of harmed individuals. Read the full ATLA press release.