Alabama Passes Legislation Barring Obesity-Related Lawsuits

The Alabama State Legislature has reportedly passed a bill (HB 242) that
would prohibit lawsuits “based on claims arising out of weight gain, obesity,
a health condition associated with weight gain or obesity, or other generally
known condition allegedly caused by or allegedly likely to result from
long-term consumption of food.” Sponsored by Representative Mike Jones
(R-Andalusia), the Commonsense Consumption Act would evidently bar civil
actions on these grounds against “packers, distributors, carriers, holders,
sellers, marketers, or advertisers of food products that comply with applicable
statutory or regulatory requirements.”

According to the May 18, 2012, issue of Capitol Retail Report, the Alabama
Senate voted 29-0-2 in favor of the bill on the final day of the legislative
session, delivering it to Governor Robert Bentley (R) for signature.