Political Quotes

“this is chart entitled ``Preemption of State Product Liability Laws,'' and it has a column of State laws more favorable to plaintiffs and State laws more favorable to defendants and what happens as regards preemption under this legislation. First as to the liability of product sellers, that is retailers, this bill prohibits any laws more favorable to plaintiff, but it allows laws more favorable to the defendants. Second, with respect to the alcohol or drug abuse defense, the bill prohibits State laws more favorable to plaintiffs but it allows State laws more favorable to defendants. Third, as to the misuse or alteration of product defense, the bill prohibits State laws more favorable to plaintiffs but allows State laws more favorable to defendants. Punitive damage limitations are treated the same way--unfavorable as to plaintiffs and favorable as to defendants. As to the statutes of limitations, that is the one and only provision that really exists in this whole bill is as to uniformity. With regard to the statute of repose provision of 20 years, this bill preempts State laws more favorable to plaintiffs but not those State laws more favorable to defendants. On the issue of eliminating joint and several liability for noneconomic damages, this bill preempts State laws which are more favorable to plaintiffs but allow State laws which are more favorable to defendants. And you have the biomaterials provisions which are treated in the same manner.…”