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United States · Bill · S

S. 687 (103rd)

Product Liability Fairness Act

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

31 March 1993

Last action

29 June 1994 · Floor

Status

Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 409.

Sponsors

Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV], Sen. Gorton, Slade [R-WA], Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO], Sen. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT], Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN], Sen. Chafee, John H. [R-RI], Sen. Wofford, Harris [D-PA], Sen. Wallop, Malcolm [R-WY], Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD], Sen. Lott, Trent [R-MS], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS], Sen. Boren, David L. [D-OK], Sen. Exon, J. James [D-NE], Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK], Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC], Sen. Pell, Claiborne [D-RI], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Helms, Jesse [R-NC], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN], Sen. Jeffords, James M. [I-VT], Sen. Faircloth, Lauch [R-NC], Sen. Glenn, John H., Jr. [D-OH], Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID], Sen. Dole, Robert J. [R-KS], Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO], Sen. Brown, Hank [R-CO], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK], Sen. Smith, Bob [R-NH], Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT], Sen. Coverdell, Paul [R-GA], Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH], Sen. Kempthorne, Dirk [R-ID], Sen. Hatfield, Mark O. [R-OR], Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Sen. Warner, John [R-VA], Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN], Sen. Mathews, Harlan [D-TN], Sen. Pryor, David H. [D-AR], Sen. Gramm, Phil [R-TX]

Subjects

Defence, Rule of law

Source updated

10 August 2026

Defence · Rule of law

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Product Liability Fairness Act - Declares that this Act applies to any civil action brought against a manufacturer or product seller, on any theory, for harm caused by a product. Excludes actions brought for loss or damage to a product or for commercial loss. States that: (1) this Act supersedes any State law only to the extent that this Act establishes an applicable rule of law; and (2) the provisions of title I shall not supersede or preempt any applicable State or Federal law. Title I: Expedited Judgments and Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures - Sets forth expedited settlement procedures, including: (1) the option of allowing either the claimant or the defendant to offer a judgment for a specific dollar amount as complete satisfaction of the claim; and (2) alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures. Establishes penalties for: (1) parties who refused an offer and did worse at trial; and (2) a defendant who refuses ADR and then loses at trial. Title II: Standards for Civil Actions - States that a person seeking to recover for harm caused by a product may bring a civil action against the product's manufacturer or product seller pursuant to applicable State or Federal law, except to the extent such law is inconsistent with this Act. Sets forth uniform standards for: (1) product seller liability; (2) the award of punitive damages; and (3) time limitations on liability. Bars punitive damages if the requirements of specified Federal laws have been met. Entitles an employer or workers' compensation insurer to the right of subrogation against a manufacturer or product seller to recover workers' compensation for harm caused to an employee by a product if a civil suit has been brought under this Act. Provides that each defendant shall only be liable for the amount of noneconomic loss proportionally caused. Provides a complete defense, in any civil action in which all defendants are manufacturers or product sellers, in cases where the claimant was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and was more than 50 percent responsible for the harm.

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

Timeline

  1. 31 March 1993

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 31 March 1993

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4145-4147)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 31 March 1993

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 23 September 1993

    Committee

    Subcommittee on Consumer. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 103-490.

    Source: Committee

  5. 9 November 1993

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

    Source: Committee

  6. 20 November 1993

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 330.

    Source: Calendars

  7. 20 November 1993

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings without amendment. With written report No. 103-203. Minority views filed.

    Source: Committee

  8. 20 November 1993

    Reported

    Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings without amendment. With written report No. 103-203. Minority views filed.

    Source: Committee

  9. 1 March 1994

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Judiciary by unanimous consent for a period not to extend beyond April 11, 1994.

    Source: IntroReferral

  10. 15 March 1994

    Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 103-1033.

    Source: Committee

  11. 11 April 1994

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 409.

    Source: Calendars

  12. 11 April 1994

    Discharge

    Senate Committee on Judiciary discharged. Pursuant to the order of March 1, 1994.

    Source: Discharge

  13. 11 April 1994

    Committee

    Senate Committee on Judiciary discharged. Pursuant to the order of March 1, 1994.

    Source: Committee

  14. 24 June 1994

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7632)

    Source: Floor

  15. 27 June 1994

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7671-7698)

    Source: Floor

  16. 28 June 1994

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7723-7744, S7746-7776)

    Source: Floor

  17. 29 June 1994

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7837-7839, S7842-7855)

    Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

9 official files

Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

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Leesvertaling

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 11 April 1994

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 11 April 1994

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  • Referral Instructions Senate (text)

    Referral Instructions Senate · EN · 1 March 1994

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  • Referral Instructions Senate (PDF)

    Referral Instructions Senate · EN · 1 March 1994

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 20 November 1993

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 20 November 1993

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 31 March 1993

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 31 March 1993

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 31 March 1993

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Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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