Who's to Blame If You're Too Fat?
The U.S. House of Representatives is poised to pass a bill limiting the ability of obese consumers to file lawsuits claiming that fast-food restaurants are responsible for their burgeoning waistlines, CNN reports.
The legislation is part of a larger Republican effort to limit so-called "frivolous" lawsuits of all kinds. Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.), a bill author, says trial lawyers see the fast-food industry as the next target, mimicking big tobacco.
Democrats who oppose the bill counter that the courts, not legislators, should decide which lawsuits are frivolous based on their merits. They voice concern that the entire industry would be, in effect, exempt from negligence, CNN reports.
The bill's introduction comes as the industry is pressured to reduce "super-size" offerings aimed at calorie-hungry consumers. Last week, McDonald's announced it would curtail its larger-size fare.