Stealth Tort Reform

Few news stories are more yawn-inducing to the general public than a story about a federal agency changing its regulations.  Too bad, because that's sometimes a shortcut to tort reform.

Safety Lex reports and expands upon a WaPo article that details an attempt to take away your right to sue auto manufacturers:

"In other words, adoption of the agency's proposed standards will cause injured parties in all fifty states to lose their common law tort rights.  The change of tactics by the White House to achieve tort reform without Congressional input raises questions concerning the scope of federal agencies' power to legislate substantive changes to state law."

It's an informative read with good background material.  Check it out.