“Cheeseburger” Liability Bill a Step towards Tort Paradise

FreedomWorks applauds members of the U.S. House of Representatives who overwhelmingly supported tort reform and personal responsibility in a key vote yesterday. H.R. 554, The Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act, passed by a margin of 306 to 120. Increasingly, ravenous trial lawyers are targeting America’s fast food industry with outrageous claims of obesity liability. H.R. 554, endearingly nicknamed the “Cheeseburger Bill” because it prevents frivolous lawsuits against food and soft drink distributors, is a step forward in reforming America’s dysfunctional tort system. This measure, sponsored by Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.) has been endorsed by President Bush and now moves to the Senate, where companion legislation is still in committee.

FreedomWorks spokesman commented, “It’s great to see such a large margin in the House supporting tort reform, and we’re hopeful that the Senate will now take up this legislation. But the reality is that greedy trial lawyers are laying siege to all American businesses. It’s great that the emerging trial bar assault on the fast food industry has captured the imagination of Congress, but we really need to go further and pass tort reform for all U.S. industries.”

“FreedomWorks will continue to push forward with our national tort reform agenda and for passage of H.R. 554. This bill sends a message to the trial lawyers: America still believes that responsibility, fairness, and accountability are the values that should underpin our system of justice. We are going to take our courts back.”