HARRISBURG (April 26, 2002) - The president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association today applauded the cooperation of the state Supreme Court, General Assembly and the legal community in advancing a new civil rule procedure.

"The Pennsylvania Bar Association is pleased that, through the cooperation of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania senators who had sponsored legislation designed to curb frivolous litigation, a court rule change recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association has been adopted by the Supreme Court,� said PBA President H. Reginald Belden Jr. of Greensburg.

By an order issued April 22, 2002, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court adopted new Rule 1023.1 of the Rules of Civil Procedure as recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

The rule change was suggested by the PBA after meeting with members of the Pennsylvania Senate who had sponsored legislation they believed was necessary to curb frivolous litigation. After reaching an agreement with them that the legislation would be held back awaiting the reaction of the Supreme Court to the recommendation of the PBA, the Civil Procedural Rules Committee of the Supreme Court was contacted with the proposed rule change.

The leadership of the Pennsylvania Bar Association had the support and cooperation of the leadership of the Philadelphia and Allegheny County Bar associations in this effort.