31.   Many buyers, fearful of cleanup problems or liability suits, will not touch properties with the slightest environmental taint.

32.   On Wednesday, a federal judge granted class-action status to product liability suits against Firestone and Ford.

33.   Of course there is a risk of unfairness against manufacturers and other defendants in product liability suits.

34.   Republican Senate leaders have tried to concentrate on passing just the one bill that limits punitive damages in product liability suits.

35.   Settling for silence is a tactic used by many major companies facing product liability suits.

36.   Some legal experts say, however, that the implant case stands in sharp contrast to certain other product liability suits that ended in the bankruptcy of a company.

37.   Some lawyers say plaintiffs interested in filing product liability suits have already contacted them.

38.   Supporters of efforts to limit liability suits said the ruling was a significant setback.

39.   The bills, similar to others passed around the country, were introduced at the behest of the National Rifle Association to protect the firearms industry from liability suits.

40.   The industry faces a series of liability suits, and Goldstone said tobacco companies would consider paying compensation in return for immunity from future claims.