WASHINGTON, D.C., June 13, 2006 — Calling it “just another costly and irresponsible effort to regulate the marketplace through litigation,” the American Tort Reform Association today said that the lawsuit against KFC over cooking oils should be dismissed.

“This lawsuit should be dismissed because courts are not in the business of determining whether some cooking oils are good or bad or should be banned or not," said ATRA President Sherman Joyce, noting that the plaintiff bringing the lawsuit has readily admitted that the lawsuit is about trying to "change" business practices, not seeking redress for any wrongdoing. "KFC's customers do not want to lose their dining choices or pick up the check for this abusive lawsuit."

"This lawsuit is part of a larger attempt by certain activists to impose their will through the courts on the rest of society," continued Joyce. "KFC is a very popular restaurant because people enjoy the food. The activists bringing this lawsuit know that there would be no support for their ideas in Congress or state legislatures because the American public does not agree with their positions. They are trying to get the courts to act in a regulatory fashion and subvert the will of the American people and their elected representatives. Trial lawyers should not get to decide what kind of food I can get when I treat myself to KFC."