| Washington, DC – Congressman Bill Shuster supports legislation encouraging personal responsibility and reducing the amount of frivolous lawsuits jamming up the court system. The Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act (H.R. 554) passed the House today and prohibits obesity-related lawsuits against the food industry when a person, on their own accord, consumes too much of a safe product. The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (S. 397) is expected to be on the floor tomorrow and would restrict frivolous legal action against a gun manufacturer for the harm caused by a criminal using their product, which is not defective but was used unlawfully.
"These two pieces of legislation promote personal responsibility instead of playing the blame game and allowing frivolous lawsuits to clog the courts," said Shuster.
The food industry, which employs nearly 12 million people, has been attacked by lawsuits alleging it should pay monetary damages to those who consume their food and gain weight. The legislation includes provisions that permit cases where a law was broken and a person gained weight, such as insufficient labeling.
S. 397 prohibits legal action against manufacturers, distributors, dealers and importers of firearms or ammunition for the harm caused by a criminal or unlawful misuse of their product when there is no design flaw or defect. In the past several years lawsuits have been filed against the firearms industry on loose theories of liability that would hold them accountable for the illegal actions of others.
"That’s like suing General Motors for criminal acts involving Buicks," said Shuster. "It is important that we protect our Second Amendment rights from the liberal outlandish agenda. Through this bill Congress will prevent a few state courts from denying Americans their fundamental right to bear arms."
S. 397 already passed the Senate and is expected on the House floor tomorrow. H.R. 554 passed the House today 307 – 119. |
