# Title 19 — Foods, Drugs, Oils, and Compounds

## Chapter 19-23 — Food Provider Limited Liability for Obesity

### § 19-23-01. Limited liability.

1. Except as provided in subsection 2, a producer, processor, manufacturer, packer,
distributor, carrier, holder, seller, marketer, trade association, or advertiser of a food, as
defined in section 201(f) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C.
321(f)], or an association of one or more of those entities, may not be subject to civil
liability arising under any state statute, rule, public policy, court or administrative
decision, municipal ordinance, or other action having the effect of law, for any claim
arising out of weight gain, obesity, a health condition associated with weight gain or
obesity, or other generally known condition allegedly caused by or allegedly likely to
result from long-term consumption of food.
2. Subsection 1 does not apply to the claim of obesity or weight gain that is based on:
a. A material violation of an adulteration or misbranding requirement prescribed by
state or federal statute, rule, or ordinance and the claimed injury was proximately
caused by the violation; or
b. Any other material violation of federal or state law applicable to the
manufacturing, marketing, distribution, advertising, labeling, or sale of food,
provided that the violation is knowing and willful, and the claimed injury was
proximately caused by the violation.
### § 19-23-02. Pleading requirements.

1. In any action commenced under this chapter, the complaint or petition must state with
particularity the following:
a. The statute, rule, regulation, ordinance, or other law that was allegedly violated;
b. The facts that are alleged to constitute a material violation of the statute, rule,
regulation, ordinance, or other law; and
c. The facts alleged to demonstrate that the violation proximately caused actual
injury to the plaintiff.
2. The complaint or petition must also state with particularity facts sufficient to support a
reasonable inference that the violation was with intent to deceive or injure consumers
or with the actual knowledge that the violation was injurious to consumers.
### § 19-23-03. Stay pending motion to dismiss.

1. In any action commenced under this chapter, all discovery and other proceedings must
be stayed during the pendency of any motion to dismiss unless the court finds upon
the motion of any party that particularized discovery is necessary to preserve evidence
or to prevent undue prejudice to a party.
2. During the pendency of any stay of discovery pursuant to this section, unless
otherwise ordered by the court, any party to the action with actual notice of the
allegations contained in the complaint shall treat all documents, data compilations, and
tangible objects that are in the custody or control of the party and are relevant to the
allegations, as if they were the subject of a continuing request for production from an
opposing party under rule 34 of the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure.
