Civil cause of action establishment for disparagement of perishable food products

A bill for an act

relating to civil law; establishing a civil cause of action for disparagement of

perishable food products; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,

chapter 604.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

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[604.125] DISPARAGEMENT OF PERISHABLE FOOD PRODUCTS.

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(a) An individual who disparages a perishable food product with the intent to harm the

reputation of the perishable food product producer and the producer suffers harm as a result

is liable for damages if that individual knowingly makes false statements that:

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(1) the perishable food product is not safe for human consumption; or

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(2) the agricultural practices used to produce the perishable food product render that

product not safe for human consumption.

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(b) If the court finds that disparagement as described in paragraph (a) has occurred, the

court may award general damages, special damages, or other relief that the court finds just

and equitable.

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(c) An action under this section must be commenced within one year of the date the

cause of action arose.

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(d) For purposes of this section, "agricultural practices" means the practices used in crop

or livestock production, including but not limited to the use of fertilizers, tillage, and crop

protection practices in crop production and the feeding, transporting, housing, and health

practices in livestock production.

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(e) For purposes of this section, "perishable food product" has the meaning given in

section 34A.01, subdivision 9.

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