Product liability bill
Executive Summary
Considered at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Aug. 5. Sponsored by Sen. Kasten (R-Wis.) and others, the product liablity law reform legislation (S 640) was debated on the Senate floor in May as an amendment to a "motor-voter" bill ("The Pink Sheet" May 18, In Brief). The Judiciary Committee asked for a hearing as a prerequisite to the measure's returning to the Senate floor for consideration as a free-standing bill, which is not likely to happen before September. The House Judiciary and Energy & Commerce Committees are not expected to consider a companion bill until the Senate passes S 640.