Michigan
Michigan’s lawmakers landed the state on the “Heat Watch” list due to a major shift following the
2022 elections, which flipped the balance of power in the state legislature. This emboldened the trial bar to push an aggressive liability-expanding agenda.
While it’s still early in the session, there are several pending bills that raise red flags for potential lawsuit abuse. Already, the legislature repealed Michigan's FDA Defense Law, removing important product liability protections for FDA-approved drugs and devices.
S.B. 410: Sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D)
H.B. 4398: Sponsored by Rep. Jasper Martus (D)
S.B. 659: Sponsored by Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D)
H.B. 5199: Sponsored by Rep. Helena Scotts (D)
H.B. 5200: Sponsored by Rep. Tullio Liberati (D)
H.B. 5201: Sponsored by Rep. Kelly Breen (D)
H.B. 5202: Sponsored by Rep. Will Snyder (D)
S.B. 329: Sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D)
S.B. 605: Sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D)
S.B. 606: Sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Moss (D)
S.B. 607: Sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Chang (D)
S.B. 608: Sponsored by Sen. Erika Geiss (D)
S.B. 609: Sponsored by Sen. Sean McCann (D)
S.B. 610: Sponsored by Sen. Sue Shink (D)
S.B. 611: Sponsored by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D)
S.B. 332 & S.B. 333: Sponsored by Sen. Erika Geiss (D)
2024 Legislative Session Adjournment:
December 31, 2024
Economic Impacts
of excessive tort costs
in Michigan annually
Tort Tax
$1,046
Per Person
97,167
jobs
lost
$10,496.7
Million
GDP Loss
32
SENATE
8
20
HOUSE
18
The full impact of these proposed changes may not be clear until fall 2024, but the potential for increased litigation and associated costs to businesses and consumers is significant. Michigan's appearance on the Heat Watch list serves as a caution to lawmakers and citizens alike about the risks of expanding liability without careful consideration of the consequences.
Repeal of Michigan’s FDA Defense Law
S.B. 410 was signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on December 7, 2023.
This bill removes a long-standing protection for pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers in Michigan, potentially leading to increased litigation and liability.
The bill repeals a 25-year-old law that gave significant weight to FDA approval in product liability cases involving drugs and medical devices. This protection was unique to Michigan. The plaintiffs' bar incorrectly portrayed the previous law as providing "absolute immunity" to manufacturers. In reality, it simply ensured that FDA expertise was considered in court decisions.
- Potential for Conflicting Standards: Without this protection, lawsuits may now claim a drug is unsafe or inadequately labeled even when the FDA has approved it, potentially creating conflicts between court decisions and FDA determinations.
- Increased Litigation Risk: The repeal opens the door for more lawsuits against drug and device manufacturers, even when they have complied with FDA regulations.
Sponsor
Sen. Jeff Irwin (D)
Co-Sponsors
Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D)
Sen. Mary Cavanagh (D)
Sen. Stephanie Chang (D)
Sen. Erika Geiss (D)
Sen. John Cherry (D)
Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D)
Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D)
- Potential for Frivolous Lawsuits: Without the FDA defense, there may be an increase in lawsuits that challenge FDA-approved drugs and devices, even when manufacturers have followed all federal regulations.
- Attorney General Ready to Sue: Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel views this as an opportunity for increased litigation, stating shortly after the bill passed that she expects the law to aid her office’s litigation against drug manufacturers in the state.
Michigan's repeal of its FDA defense law is an unnecessary expansion of liability that is likely to have negative consequences for businesses as well as conflict with federal regulatory expertise.
See whether your lawmaker voted to expand liability in Michigan or voted for a balanced civil justice system!
Voted Against
Expanding Liability
Voted to
Expand Liability
Excused
Sponsored Bill to
Expand Liability
KEY
Senator Name | Senate Floor Vote |
Albert (R) | |
Anthony (D) | |
Bayer (D) | |
Bellino (R) | |
Brinks (D) | |
Bumstead (R) | |
Camilleri (D) | |
Cavanagh (D) | |
Chang (D) | |
Cherry (D) | |
Daley (R) | |
Damoose (R) | |
Geiss (D) | |
Hauck (R) | |
Hertel (D) | |
Hoitenga (R) | |
Huizenga (R) | |
Irwin (D) | |
Johnson (R) | |
Klinefelt (D) | |
Lauwers (R) | |
Lindsey (R) | |
McBroom (R) | |
McCann (D) | |
McDonald Rivet (D) | |
McMorrow (D) | |
Moss (D) | |
Nesbitt (R) | |
Outman (R) | |
Polehanki (D) | |
Runestad (R) | |
Santana (D) | |
Shink (D) | |
Singh (D) | |
Theis (R) | |
Victory (R) | |
Webber (R) | |
Wojno (D) |
Reprsentative Name | House Floor Vote |
Aiyash (D) | |
Alexander, G. (R) | |
Andrews (D) | |
Aragona (R) | |
Arbit (D) | |
BeGole (R) | |
Beeler (R) | |
Beson (R) | |
Bezotte (R) | |
Bierlein (R) | |
Bollin (R) | |
Borton (R) | |
Brabec (D) | |
Breen (D) | |
Brixie (D) | |
Bruck (R) | |
Byrnes (D) | |
Carra (R) | |
Carter, T. (D) | |
Carter, B. (D) | |
Cavitt (R) | |
Churches (D) | |
Coffia (D) | |
Coleman (D) | |
Conlin (D) | |
DeBoer (R) | |
DeBoyer (R) | |
DeSana (R) | |
Dievendorf (D) | |
Edwards (D) | |
Farhat (D) | |
Filler (R) | |
Fink (R) | |
Fitzgerald (D) | |
Fox (R) | |
Friske (R) | |
Glanville (D) | |
Grant (D) | |
Green, P. (R) | |
Greene, J. (R) | |
Haadsma (D) | |
Hall (R) | |
Harris (R) | |
Hill (D) | |
Hoadley (R) | |
Hood (D) | |
Hope (D) | |
Hoskins (D) | |
Johnsen (R) | |
Koleszar (D) | |
Kuhn (R) | |
Kunse (R) | |
Liberati, T. (D) | |
Lightner (R) | |
MacDonell (D) | |
Maddock (R) | |
Markkanen (R) | |
Martin (R) | |
Martus (D) | |
McFall (D) | |
McKinney (D) | |
Meerman (R) | |
Mentzer (D) | |
Miller (D) | |
Morgan (D) | |
Morse (D) | |
Mueller (R) | |
Neeley, C. (D) | |
Neyer (R) | |
O'Neal (D) | |
Outman (R) | |
Paiz (D) | |
Paquette (R) | |
Pohutsky (D) | |
Posthumus (R) | |
Prestin (R) | |
Price (D) | |
Puri (D) | |
Rheingans (D) | |
Rigas (R) | |
Rogers (D) | |
Roth (R) | |
Schmaltz (R) | |
Schriver (R) | |
Schuette (R) | |
Scott (D) | |
Shannon (D) | |
Skaggs (D) | |
Slagh (R) | |
Smit (R) | |
Snyder (D) | |
St. Germaine (R) | |
Steckloff (D) | |
Steele (R) | |
Stone (D) | |
Tate (D) | |
Thompson (R) | |
Tisdel (R) | |
Tsernoglou (D) | |
VanWoerkom (R) | |
VanderWall (R) | |
Wegela (D) | |
Weiss (D) | |
Wendzel (R) | |
Whitsett (D) | |
Wilson (D) | |
Witwer (D) | |
Wozniak (R) | |
Young (D) | |
Zorn (R) |
General False Claims Act
This bill would significantly expand potential liability for those doing business with or receiving funds from Michigan state and local governments. It includes qui tam provisions that authorize private individuals to sue on behalf of the state and collect a bounty if there is recovery.
Sponsor
Rep. Jasper Martus (D)
It would incentivize private citizens to find avenues to sue businesses for personal financial gain under the guise of serving the state’s interest.
This bill was considered by the House Labor Committee in April but has not received action since then.
Co-Sponsors
Rep. Joey Andrews (D)
Rep. Felicia Brabec (D)
Rep. Kelly Breen (D)
Rep. Brenda Carter (D)
Rep. Alabas Farhat (D)
Rep. Jim Haadsma (D)
Rep. Rachel Hood (D)
Rep. Kara Hope (D)
Rep. Christine Morse (D)
Rep. Natalie Price (D)
Rep. Helena Scott (D)
Rep. Will Snyder (D)
Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D)
Rep. Regina Weiss (D)
Data Privacy
This bill significantly expands potential liability for businesses that collect, process, sell, share, or retain personal data of Michigan residents.
The bill grants additional powers and duties to state governmental officers and entities to enforce these new privacy rights, potentially leading to more frequent and rigorous inspections and audits. It also establishes new funds and provides for remedies, including civil penalties, for violations of the law.
The broad scope of the bill and the inclusion of private rights of action may lead to a surge in litigation, with businesses facing numerous lawsuits.
Sponsor
Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D)
Co-Sponsors
Sen. John Cherry (D)
Sen. Stephanie Chang (D)
Sen. Erika Geiss (D)
Sen. Sue Shink (D)
Sen. Sylvia A. Santana (D)
Sen. Sarah Anthony (D)
Expanding Liability Against Regulated Entities & Professions
These bills would undo Michigan’s regulatory compliance exemption under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act and open the door to litigation under the MCPA and over 80 different regulated entities and professions.
NOTE:
A case to do the same is pending at the Michigan Supreme Court:
Attorney General vs. Eli Lilly & Co.
Lead Sponsors
Rep. Helena Scott (D)
Rep. Tullio Liberati (D)
Rep. Kelly Breen (D)
Rep. Will Snyder (D)
Co-Sponsors
- Penelope Tsernoglou (D)
- Kara Hope (D)
- Erin Byrnes (D)
- Carrie Rheingans (D)
- Rachel Hood (D)
- Natalie Price (D)
- Jason Morgan (D)
- Samantha Steckloff (D)
- Mike McFall (D)
- Sharon MacDonell (D)
- Jimmie Wilson Jr. (D)
- Jenn Hill (D)
Bad Faith
This legislation would enact a “bad faith” law, which would force insurance companies to pay claims first and ask questions later by putting in place new restrictions on the way insurers investigate, evaluate and pay claims.
Milliman estimates this proposal could raise consumer costs by an estimated $2.4 to $4.7 billion.
This bill would create an overly burdensome environment for insurers, potentially leading to increased litigation, higher costs for consumers, and a less competitive insurance market in Michigan. The broad and vague standards could make it difficult for insurers to operate efficiently and could encourage frivolous lawsuits.
Sponsor
Sen. Jeff Irwin (D)
Co-Sponsors
- Mallory McMorrow (D)
- Darrin Camilleri (D)
- Sam Singh (D)
- Erika Geiss (D)
- Paul Wojno (D)
- Sue Shink (D)
- Jeremy Moss (D)
- Stephanie Chang (D)
- Dayna Polehanki (D)
Polluter Pay and Medical Monitoring Legislation
This legislation would enact a “polluter pay” and other environmental changes, including medical monitoring for those with no present injury or disease, authorization of medical monitoring claims as class action lawsuits, and a revision in the statute of limitation for environmental cleanup costs related to hazardous substances, including substances that were not regulated as hazardous before 1994.
Lead Sponsors
Sen. Jeff Irwin (D)
Sen. Jeremy Moss (D)
Sen. Stephanie Chang (D)
Sen. Erika Geiss (D)
Sen. Sean McCann (D)
Sen. Sue Shink (D)
Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D)
