Skip to content
PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

United States · Bill · S

S. 565 (104th)

Product Liability Fairness Act of 1995

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

15 March 1995

Last action

18 April 1995 · Reported

Status

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 91.

Sponsors

Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV], Sen. Gorton, Slade [R-WA], Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT], Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE], Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK], Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Sen. Chafee, John H. [R-RI], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY], Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN], Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA], Sen. Hatfield, Mark O. [R-OR], Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN], Sen. Faircloth, Lauch [R-NC]

Subjects

Defence

Source updated

7 April 2025

Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Product Liability Fairness Act of 1995 - Applies this Act to any product liability action begun after enactment of this Act, except for actions for loss or damage to a product itself, actions for commercial loss, and actions for negligent entrustment. Makes any circuit court of appeals decision interpreting this Act a precedent for any Federal or State court within that court's geographic jurisdiction. (Sec. 4) Allows a claimant or defendant in a product liability action to offer to proceed with voluntary, nonbinding alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Requires defendant offerees to pay reasonable attorney's fees and costs if they unreasonably or in bad faith refuse to proceed to ADR and final judgment is entered against the defendant. (Sec. 5) Imposes seller liability if the seller failed to exercise reasonable care, made an express warranty, or engaged in intentional wrongdoing. Declares that a failure to inspect is not a failure of reasonable care if there was no reasonable opportunity to inspect. Makes a seller liable as a manufacturer if the manufacturer is not subject to service or if the claimant would be unable to enforce a judgment. (Sec. 6) Makes it a complete defense if the claimant was under the influence of alcohol or a drug and was more than 50 percent responsible. (Sec. 7) Reduces damages by the percentage of harm attributable to misuse or alteration, except for actions involving an employer or coemployee if the employer or coemployee is, under State law, immune from claimant's action. (Sec. 8) Allows punitive damages, as permitted by State law, if the claimant shows by clear and convincing evidence that the harm resulted from the defendant's conscious, flagrant safety indifference. Limits the amounts that may be awarded for a claim. Requires, at the request of either party, consideration of punitive damages in a separate proceeding. (Sec. 9) Limits the time within which a product liability action must be started, with a separate limit for durable goods. (Sec. 10) Permits several and prohibits joint liability for noneconomic loss. (Sec. 11) Grants an insurer a right of subrogation whether or not the insurer is a party. Prohibits settlements or payments, and makes releases invalid, without the consent of the insurer. Requires, if the manufacturer or seller alleges the harm was the fault of the claimant's employer or coemployee, that the issue be submitted to the trier of fact. Reduces damages if it is found by clear and convincing evidence that the harm was so caused, but requires the manufacturer or seller to reimburse the insurer for attorney's fees and costs if it is not so found. (Sec. 12) Declares that U.S. district courts shall not have jurisdiction under this Act based on provisions of the U.S. Code relating to Federal questions, commerce and antitrust, and amounts in controversy.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 15 March 1995

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 15 March 1995

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3978-3979, S3981-3982)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 15 March 1995

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 3 April 1995

    Committee

    Subcommittee on Consumer. Hearings held.

    Source: Committee

  5. 4 April 1995

    Committee

    Committee on Commerce; Senate Subcommittee on Consumer. Hearings concluded. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-435.

    Source: Committee

  6. 6 April 1995

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Source: Committee

  7. 18 April 1995

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 91.

    Source: Calendars

  8. 18 April 1995

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Pressler under the authority of the order of Apr 6, 95 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 104-69. Minority views filed.

    Source: Committee

  9. 18 April 1995

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Pressler under the authority of the order of Apr 6, 95 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 104-69. Minority views filed.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

6 official files

Reported to Senate (text)

View fileDownload file

This file cannot be previewed here. Use View or Download.

Leesvertaling

Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 18 April 1995

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 18 April 1995

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 18 April 1995

    Open at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 15 March 1995

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 15 March 1995

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 15 March 1995

    Open at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.