BrianGarst.com

While the left is obsessing over whether Mitt Romney hired any dirty foreigners while CEO of Bain, or to manage his money, jobs are being lost right now as American manufacturers are sued out of business. But don’t expect any hand-wringing from Democrats this time, as they rely heavily on trial lawyers to maintain their power (Hat-tip: Overlawyered).

Citing the costs of lawsuits against the company, Blitz USA will close its gas can manufacturing facility in Oklahoma after almost 50 years in production and lay off more than 100 employees at the end of this month.

According to a release from the company, which makes 75 percent of the portable gas cans sold in the country, Blitz USA has been bombarded by litigation from users who allege the cans’ design did not protect them when they poured gasoline onto fires.

Since 2007, the Southeast Texas Record has reported on about 10 suits filed against Blitz USA in the U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

…Among the lawsuits that have hit the company hard is a $4 million judgment in Utah, which is currently on appeal.

The plaintiff in the Utah case tried to start a fire in a wood-burning stove inside a trailer home by inserting the nozzle of the gas can into the stove and pouring gasoline onto the fire. The plaintiff was severely burned and his 2-year-old daughter was killed by the resulting conflagration.

As pointed out by the PointOfLaw.com blog in a July 9 post, the plaintiff blamed Blitz USA for failing to warn consumers of the dangers even though the plastic gas container is imprinted with instructions to “Keep away from flames, pilot lights, stoves, heaters, electric motors, and other sources of ignition.”

If it’s not frivolous lawsuits, it’s overzealous bureaucrats, onerous regulations or a President that belittles your accomplishments.  Perhaps before the left, or anyone for that matter, again complains about outsourcing and loss of American jobs, they should ask themselves why anyone would want to do business in this country in the first place. It’s become clear that we as a society increasingly do not appreciate such efforts.

frivolous lawsuits