Artman Testifies About MMPA Amendments Before Missouri House

Shook Associate Jennifer Artman testified before the Missouri House about H.B. 2089, which proposes amendments to the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA) that may make it harder for plaintiffs to bring frivolous lawsuits against businesses. Artman, who appeared on behalf of the American Tort Reform Association, cited a rise in such lawsuits and referred to a 2017 case in which a Missouri man sued The Hershey Company, alleging his box of candy was underfilled.

The Kansas City Star quoted Artman in “Consumer Protection Bill Resurfaces a Year After Accusations of Pay-To-Play Scheme,” reporting that Artman said, “These abuses are apparent in the numbers . . . Between the years 2000 and 2009, reported decisions under the MMPA rose by 678 percent. That makes Missouri the fourth largest state in terms of consumer protection for recommendation. These abuses come in the form of costs to everyone.”