CALIFORNIA: RESCISSION OF TOBACCO LAW PROPOSED
Legislation to rescind "the immunity for product liabilityThis is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
lawsuits that the tobacco industry has enjoyed" since 1987 was
proposed in the California Senate Wednesday, SAN FRANCISCO
CHRONICLE reports. State Sen. Quentin Kopp (I) introduced the
legislation to repeal a provision in a "sweeping" tort reform law
which exempted substances "known to be unsafe by the ordinary
consumer" from individual lawsuits (12/12). SAN FRANCISCO
EXAMINER notes that "[d]ozens of cities and states have filed
suit against tobacco companies," but California law "does not
allow an individual or his survivors to file suit to recover
individual losses" (Capps, 12/11). Kopp, who represents San
Francisco, "said he introduced the bill in response to a
resolution by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors."
ABOUT TIME: "This bill provides a chance for every
politician in Sacramento to regain their integrity and show that
they are free of the grasp of the powerful tobacco lobby," said
Kopp (CHRONICLE, 12/12). EXAMINER reports that the bill has won
support from state Senate Judiciary Committee Chair John Burton
(D), the American Heart Association and the American Lung
Association. "I would think the bill has a pretty good chance of
getting out of the Senate," said Burton. Paul Knepprath of the
Lung Association said, "We're going to pull out all our stops to
support this legislation. It's time to stop the special interest
protections of the tobacco interest" (12/11). Kopp said, "It's a
killer. Tobacco is a killer product. Californians have unfairly
been prohibited from suing killer companies for damages arising
from their killer product" (CHRONICLE, 12/12).