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Litigation against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over greenhouse gas regulation took center stage in February as many groups, including the NAM, filed petitions for court review of that agencys conclusions. While that case continues,
Class Actions Class action certification requirements for unfair competition cases in California. The NAM and other industry groups on March 18 filed an amicus letter in the California Supreme Court, urging that court to tighten up its standards for certifying classes that may sue manufacturers under the states Unfair Competition Law, and to require proof of damage and reliance where fraud is alleged. We want the court to reaffirm that the claims of class representatives must be typical of those of the rest of the class, that trial judges have the flexibility to revise class certification orders when they are incorrect, and that a product user must prove reliance on a warranty provision before he or she may sue for damages. The case is one of an increasing number of consumer class actions that were intended to be restrained under Proposition 64 when it passed in 2004. Weinstat v. Dentsply International, Inc. (Cal.). Free Speech Use of fraud law to chill free speech rights. On March 22, the NAM and the Washington Legal Foundation filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of an adverse ruling under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) for speech relating to the sale of light cigarettes. The Government used federal fraud statutes to target the speech of industry members made during decades-long public debates over the health and safety of smoking. It did so without any showing that the speaker had fraudulent intent or that the speech was material to consumers, and the appeals court failed to independently review the trial court's finding, eliminating a key safeguard for First Amendment protections. Our brief underscores the right of all parties, even those with an economic motive, to participate fully in discussions of matters of public concern. Philip Morris USA Inc. v. United States (S. Ct.). Product Liability Medical monitoring. On March 9, the NAM and nine other business groups filed an amicus brief urging the Third Circuit to reject a claim that a manufacturer should pay for medical monitoring of a plaintiff that has no proven physical injury from the use of the manufacturers product. M.G. v. A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children (3d Cir.). Liability for asbestos products made by another company and affixed post-sale. On November 12, 2009, the NAM and seven other companies filed an amicus letter urging review of this case to resolve a clear conflict between two California courts of appeal. Earlier in 2009, the First District held that a manufacturer of various parts supplied to the Navy had no duty to warn of the dangers of asbestos-containing products supplied by other manufacturers. In contrast, the Second District created a broad new duty rule that requires manufacturers to warn about risks in products made by others. On December 23, 2009, the court agreed to hear this appeal, and the NAM filed an additional brief on March 9, 2010. ONeil v. Crane Co. (Cal.).
Please visit our rejuvenated Manufacturing Law Center to see further details on these and other cases affecting manufacturers. If you know of cases where NAM involvement could help provide the courts with the important perspective of manufacturers, please let us know. We may be able to help. Quentin Riegel National Association of Manufacturers Check out the NAM's Manufacturing Law Center at www.nam.org/law Copyright © 2010 National Association of Manufacturers |