Google Endorses Bill to Reveal Funders Backing Lawsuits

Google is endorsing a bill that would require people filing lawsuits to disclose who will be paying for – and profiting from – the litigation.

The bill, introduced last week by California Republican Representative Darrell Issa, would require plaintiffs to reveal any investors who could make money based on the outcome of a case. It would also require parties to disclose the financing agreement between investors and those involved.

“Excessive litigation driven by third-party investors is going to inherently raise costs for American companies as well as consumers,” said Google’s general counsel, Halimah DeLaine Prado, in an interview. ...