The House and Senate Judiciary Committees both passed innovator liability reform legislation that will restore Alabama's long-standing product-liability law and put us in line with the majority of states that have rejected the innovator-liability theory, which holds that a manufacturer can be held liable for a product that it neither made nor sold. This bill is important for Alabama manufacturers and economic development.

The Senate Judiciary Committee this week voting 6-0 favorably reported a substitute version of SB 80 sponsored by Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster. The House version, HB 110, sponsored by Rep. Jack "J.D." Williams, R-Vestavia Hills, was favorably reported by the House Judiciary Committee and received a second reading on Thursday. The House committee adopted language similar to that of the Senate to clarify and strengthen the bill via an amendment by freshman Rep. David Faulkner, R-Birmingham. Both the House and Senate are in a position to consider this bill next week.

See this BCA fact sheet for more information.

Courtesy of the Business Council of Alabama