Washington, DC – As trial lawyers continue to plot their legal assault against restaurants and food providers in an effort to cash in on the nation’s expanding waistline, local school board members have now become the latest target. Recently, the Seattle School Board was sent an intimidating letter from George Washington University law professor John Banzhaf, threatening that renewal of a vending contract for area schools could result in lawsuits against the board and individual members themselves.
In response to Banzhaf’s opportunistic threat, The Center for Consumer Freedom has unveiled a television commercial in Seattle today, warning residents that these lawsuit-happy attorneys are desperately looking for ways to sue restaurants, food companies and now school boards for their next tobacco-sized payday. Where most of us see dinner or a snack, they see dollar signs.
The humorous ad is set in a courtroom, where a slick-looking attorney argues before a puzzled jury that the “reckless cookie baking business” of a mystery defendant has made his client fat. The lack of warning labels, he argues, along with “pretty pictures” on the cookie box, prove the defendant’s liability for enormous financial damages.
With a skeptical judge looking on, the lawyer peers over the stand and says with disgust: “You make them taste good on purpose, don’t you?” The mystery defendant is then revealed to be a doe-eyed girl in a scouting uniform, who replies: “I guess so.” A voice-over tells viewers to learn more about lawyers cashing in obesity at ConsumerFreedom.com.
The 30-second ad will air tonight, July 16th, in Seattle on KIRO, KING, KOMO and KCPQ TV.
To view the ad, visit www.ConsumerFreedom.com or call (202) 463-7112 to request a copy. Still images of ad also available.
The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies, and consumers working together to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices. To learn more, visit www.ConsumerFreedom.com.
