SB289: Bill Text

LRB-3039/3

MJL:wlj:rs

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Senate BILL 289

October 21, 2003 - Introduced by Senators Reynolds, S. Fitzgerald, Zien, Breske, Harsdorf, Kanavas, Lazich, Leibham, Roessler and Schultz, cosponsored by Representatives Vrakas, Gundrum, Gronemus, Albers, Bies, J. Fitzgerald, Friske, Gottlieb, Grothman, Gunderson, Hahn, Hines, Honadel, Hundertmark, Jeskewitz, Kestell, Krawczyk, Kreibich, Ladwig, F. Lasee, M. Lehman, LeMahieu, McCormick, Montgomery, Musser, Nass, Nischke, Olsen, Ott, Pettis, Petrowski, Schneider, Seratti, Stone, Suder, Towns, Townsend, Van Roy, Ward, Weber, M. Williams, J. Wood, Young, Zepnick and Ziegelbauer, by request of Wisconsin Restaurant Association. Referred to Committee on Labor, Small Business Development and Consumer Affairs.

SB289,1,2 An Act to amend 814.04 (intro.); and to create 895.506 of the statutes; relating to: civil liability exemption for claims resulting from weight gain and obesity.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill provides a civil liability exemption for food manufacturers, marketers, packers, advertisers, distributors, and sellers for claims resulting from a person's weight gain or obesity or health condition related to weight gain or obesity caused by the consumption of food. The bill also provides an exception to this immunity if the claim involves a knowing violation of a state or federal law concerning the food, a breach of contract or express warranty in connection with the purchase of the food, or a claim that the food is adulterated under federal law. Finally, a defendant on a summary judgment motion concerning one of these claims may, in addition to the attorney fees of not more than $100 recoverable under current law, recover reasonable attorney fees and the costs of the investigation and litigation.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB289, s. 1 Section 1. 814.04 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB289,2,3 814.04 Items of costs. (intro.) Except as provided in ss. 93.20, 100.30 (5m), 106.50 (6) (i) and (6m) (a), 115.80 (9), 281.36 (2) (b) 1., 767.33 (4) (d), 769.313, 814.025, 814.245, 895.035 (4), 895.10 (3), 895.506, 895.75 (3), 895.77 (2), 895.79 (3), 895.80 (3), 943.212 (2) (b), 943.245 (2) (d) and 943.51 (2) (b), when allowed costs shall be as follows:

SB289, s. 2 Section 2. 895.506 of the statutes is created to read:

SB289,2,9 895.506 Liability exemption; weight gain and obesity claims. (1) Any person who manufactures, markets, packs, distributes, advertises, or sells food, as defined in 21 USC 321 (f), is immune from civil liability for a person's weight gain or obesity caused by the consumption of the food, or for a health condition related to weight gain or obesity.

SB289,2,10 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following:

SB289,2,14 (a) A claim that a defendant under sub. (1) knowingly violated a federal or state law concerning the manufacturing, marketing, distribution, advertisement, labeling, or sale of the food, and the violation was the proximate cause of the weight gain, obesity, or related health condition.

SB289,2,16 (b) A claim for breach of contract or express warranty in connection with the purchase of the food.

SB289,2,17 (c) A claim regarding the sale of food that is adulterated under 21 USC 342.

SB289,2,20 (3) In addition to the costs allowed under s. 814.04, a defendant that prevails on a motion under s. 802.08 filed in an action under sub. (2) may recover reasonable attorney fees and the costs of the investigation and litigation.

SB289, s. 3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

SB289,2,23 (1) This act first applies to actions pending on the effective date of this subsection.

SB289,2,24 (End)