The 1995 drug industry immunity law that Michigan Manufacturer's Association claimed would "encourage companies – including pharmaceutical companies – to stay in Michigan" has failed to do that – yet again.
Not only do Michiganders have no legal recourse when FDA approved drugs hurt or kill them – but soon there will be even fewer good paying jobs at Pfizer.
Some Michigan lawmakers have been working on repealing this law but the business-backed opposition's favored rebuttal has been that this law helps keep good jobs in the state – despite the fact that the high-paying pharmaceutical jobs began trickling out of Michigan even as Governor Engler was signing the bill into law years ago.
And since we promise you comedy here at the PopTort, I will share this truly ridiculous blog post by Sherman Joyce, the President of ATRA on this issue. Apparently keeping to the talking point that this law somehow protects Michigan pharmaceutical jobs (and blaming trial attorneys) is more important than actual facts.
When Al Capone ordered his murderous henchmen to bump off seven of "Bugs" Moran's boys at a Chicago warehouse back on Valentine's Day in 1929, they used machine guns to get the job done. Seventy-eight years later, some Michigan state lawmakers in Lansing, acting at the behest of personal injury lawyers, have armed themselves with a legislative proposal that could shoot holes in an important safeguard against lawsuit abuse and kill thousands of jobs while they're at it. (read on)
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