WASHINGTON — President Bush signed legislation into law that places new limits on class-action lawsuits. He praised the measure as a step toward "restoring common sense and balance to America's legal system."

The legislation moves large, multi-state class actions out of state courts and into federal courts, where judges have been more conservative with decisions and damages, reported the Los Angeles Times.

In a ceremony in the White House East Room, Bush said that while such legal actions have value, they "can also be manipulated for personal gain" by lawyers seeking a state court where they can expect the greatest awards.

"This bill helps fix the system," the president said. "Congress has done its duty."

As in the Senate, a significant number of House Democrats joined with Republicans to pass the bill, and Bush said it was "a model of effective bipartisan legislation."