Political Quotes

“today we have a great opportunity to move America forward by passing this conference report on products liability reform. This is not a perfect bill, but it is a fair bill. It is fair to the consumers in America, and it is fair to the companies that make the products. One of the companies is Mattison Technologies of Rockford, IL. This is a company facing liability lawsuits involving products that are as old as the company itself. Madison is celebrating its 100th year of operation. That is correct, Mr. Speaker, Mattison Technologies have been manufacturing tools for one century. Recently they were sued by a plaintiff in Ohio for a machine that was built in 1917. That is right, 1917, the same year Americans went to fight in the First World War, the same year the Bolsheviks were turning out Czar Nicholas. That is a long time for a machine tool to be functioning and too long for a company to be held liable for one of its products. Mattison has 150 employees and yet every 3 months the sheriff shows up with a brandnew summons bringing a brandnew lawsuit against the company. I have a letter from Robert Jennings, the general manager. Listen to what he said: ``The present product liability situation in this country has had a tremendous impact on our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace.'' We are continuously defending lawsuits concerning machines built 30, 60, and even 70 years ago.”