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S 687 103th Congress Senate

Product Liability Fairness Act

Official title: A bill to regulate interstate commerce by providing for a uniform product liability law, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 13, 1993 See on congress.gov
Commerce Aircraft industryAlcoholAlcoholismAppellate courts
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Civil actions and liabilityCivil procedureCommercial arbitrationConsumer protectionDamagesDefective productsDistrict courtsDrug abuseDrug industryDrugsFederal preemptionHealthIndemnityInsurance companiesJurisdictionLabelingLawLegal feesLiability for aircraft accidentsLimitation of actionsManufacturing industriesMediationMedical suppliesNegligencePackagingProduct safetyProducts liabilityPunitive damagesRetail tradeStandardsState lawsWarrantiesWorkers' compensation
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This bill died when the 103rd Congress ended
It never became law before the 103rd Congress (1993–1994) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 20 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 29, 1994
Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 409.
Jun 29, 1994
Second cloture not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 57-41. Record Vote No: 170. (consideration: CR S7855)
Jun 29, 1994
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7837-7839, S7842-7855)
Jun 28, 1994
First cloture motion not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54-44. Record Vote No: 169. (consideration: CR S7769-7770)
Jun 28, 1994
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7723-7744, S7746-7776)
Jun 27, 1994
Second cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S7698)
Jun 27, 1994
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7671-7698)
Jun 24, 1994
Cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S7632)
Jun 24, 1994
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7632)
Apr 11, 1994
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 409.
Apr 11, 1994
Senate Committee on Judiciary discharged. Pursuant to the order of March 1, 1994.
Mar 15, 1994
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 103-1033.
Mar 1, 1994
Referred to the Committee on Judiciary by unanimous consent for a period not to extend beyond April 11, 1994.
Nov 20, 1993
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 330.
Nov 20, 1993
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings without amendment. With written report No. 103-203. Minority views filed.
Nov 9, 1993
Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Sep 23, 1993
Subcommittee on Consumer. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 103-490.
Mar 31, 1993
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Mar 31, 1993
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4145-4147)
Mar 31, 1993
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 241

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

3 agreed to 238 pending / other

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 1,895 – To eliminate provisions limiting punitive damages concerning certain drugs and medical devices and certain ai… Pending Jun 29, 1994
SAMDT 1,942 – To impose criminal liability on corporations for knowingly concealing serious dangers from their employees or… Withdrawn Jun 28, 1994
SAMDT 1,941 – To place a limitation on the awarding of punitive damages for certain drugs and medical devices. Withdrawn Jun 28, 1994
SAMDT 1,940 – To provide for product liability insurance reporting. Agreed to Jun 28, 1994
SAMDT 1,938 – To make negligent entrustment actions not subject to the Act's provisions. Agreed to Jun 28, 1994
SAMDT 1,930 – To amend chapter 111 of title 28, United States Code, relating to protective orders, sealing of cases, disclo… Agreed to Jun 28, 1994
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Showing the 50 most recent of 241 amendments.

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 Latest action June 29, 1994

Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 409.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
McConnell, Mitch
Kentucky · Jun 15, 1993
 R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · May 13, 1993
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 687: Product Liability Fairness Act. 103rd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/103-S-687/
MLA
"S. 687: Product Liability Fairness Act." 103rd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/103-S-687/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 687, 103rd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/103-S-687/.
Markdown link
[S. 687: Product Liability Fairness Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/103-S-687/)
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