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Get ready for the next mass-tort crusade: protecting our kids from the ravages of Big Cola, according to an article in City Journal, a New York City-based publication on policy issues. The article noted that a group of lawyers is gearing up to file lawsuits that will seek to blame soft drink companies for obesity, tooth decay and other childhood health ailments.

The article noted that the lawyers are backed by “progressive” foundations and nutrition advocates in and outside the universities who now regularly appear in the press, demanding a national obesity policy aimed at changing our collective diet, by force of law if necessary -- or quite possibly by force of litigation.

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Editor’s Insight: VendingMarketWatch has encouraged vending operators to support tort reform efforts at both the state and national levels.

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 420, the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2005 (LARA), in its continuing efforts to deter the filing of frivolous lawsuits. This is one of several issues that require collective action by the industries affected, which certainly includes the vending industry. Hopefully, our industry trade associations are doing their part to support tort reform and protect members’ interests. 01-17-06 by Elliot Maras