On March 10, as the Senate Judiciary Committee wrapped two hours of testimony on product liability reform, the chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter, buttonholed one of the witnesses, Victor Schwartz. “Do you think a hearing like this helps catch the attention of corporate America?” Specter asked the Shook, Hardy & Bacon partner.

Schwartz quickly responded “Yes, I do.” He could have added: “If corporate chieftains and their lawyers aren’t listening yet, they should be.”