OT OPTIO ES NS

during International Hardware Week1 The annual event held in conjunction with the National Hardware ShoW' and the Building Products Exposition. And it's just as obvious that you should be in Chicago on August 13th,

Shores nol for

Serving 13 states

PUBLISHER David Cutler (dculler@ioc.net)

SENIOR EDITOR David Koenig (dkoenig @ ioc.net)

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Dave DelVal (ddelval@ ioc.net)

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Dwight Cunan, Gage McKinney, Earl Moore

AD SALES MANAGER Chuck Casey

ART DIRECTOR Martha Emery

STAFF ARTIST Chas. Balun

CIRCULATION Autumn Schwanke

How to Advertise

Contact our adveiising otlices for rates: U.S.A.: Chuck Casey, 4500 Campus Drive, Suile 480, Newport Beach, Ca.92660.1872. Phone (949) 852-1 990 Fax 949-852{23 1

INTERNET ADS: David Cutler, www.buildingproducts.com. Phone (949) 852.1990 Fax 949-852-0231

How to Subscribe

Call Autumn at (949) 852.1990 or send a check for the following amounl to Building Producls Digest,4500 Campus Drive, Suile 480, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660.1872:

U.S.A.: One year (12 issues), 925

Two years, $4.|

Three years, $55

FOREIGN (Per year paid in advance in US funds); Surface-Canada or Mexico. $37 Other countries, $45

Air rates also available.

Single copies, $3 + shipping

Back issues (when availatrle), $4.50 + shipping

CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send address label lrom recenl issue il possible, new address and nine.digit zip cod€.

8UlLD|NGPR00ucTsD|GEsTispub|ishedmonhlyat4500campusD|.,ste.480,NewponBeach,ca.92660.'t872,(949)852.1990,FAX94$852.0231,wt^iw.bui|ding-prodU.com'by cuuerPublishing,|nc.(aca|ifomiacorporation).|tisanindependently{wnedpublicatjon'orbui|dingproductstai|e6 Cut|erPub|ishing,|nc.coverandentir€conlentsar8fu|lypfotectedandmus|notboreproducedinymannorw|ho reserves he right to accopl or rejscl any editodal or adverlising matter, and assumes no liability for materiab lumishod to it.

IT TAKES GREAT SOUTHERN \^/OOD TO BUILD THE BEST PACKAGE IN THE BL.|5INE55.

Whcn 1',rtr ,lcrrl nitlt (lreirt SLrLrthcrr, \.ou'rc not only gcttirtg tl-rc l.cst It.c:\Lll't'-tl-crttctl

- vttu're gctrir-rg tlrc l.cst it'r trc,rring rucltt.t,rlt,gy rt[t1 servicc: r Our five strategically located plzrnts have coverecl uarcht'uses and fully paved yards tcr provide the ultimate in protectit'rn for our products u'hile they await shipment.

Our state.of,thc-irrt treating plants produce clcarn, bright products covered b-v the Osmose lifctime gllarzrntee.

. (Jur own fleet o{ trucks means timelv, uninterrupted delivcry to your stores.

. Our marketing program pulls consumers into ),our stores and provides field reps to train personnel and help with merchandising.

Wc have 2E vears of experictrce lts rt lclt,lct' itt u l-rolc packirge, beciL,-rsc if it tlocsrr't srrl ()strttrsc

DAVID CUTLER publisher dcutler@ioc.net

Product Liabitity Bill Passes House

Most of the products we buy and use work pretty well. But occasionally a product fails with serious consequences. Users can be maimed, even killed. Damages can go beyond the physical to include psychological injuries. It can be a nightmare for the buyer. But increasingly in our litigious society, it can be a nightmare for the entire chain of distribution that delivered the product to the buyer.

After the injury come the doctors. And after the doctors, just as surely as God made little green apples, come the lawyers. The lawsuits the attorneys file bring with them enormous costs in time, money, lost productivity and an apple orchard of stress. Many times the victims claims are justified. But too often they are not. But valid or not, the lawyers sue all the way up and down the distribution chain. It's not a pretty picture.

But help may be on its way. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 2366, "The Small Business Liability Reform Act of 2000." The National Association of WholesalerDistributors has lauded the legislation, observing that in product liability lawsuits it would "signihcantly limit the liability of non-manufacturer product sellers such as distributors, retailers, lessors, and renters only to harms caused by their own negligence or intentional wrongdoing, the product's breach of the seller's own express warranty, and for the product manufacturer's responsibility when the manufacturer is judgementproof."

The bill also eliminates joint (deep pockets) liability for "noneconomic loss" and limits punitive damage awards to $250,000 for employers with fewer than 25 full-time employees thar become defendants in civil lawsuits. Neither of these provisions would apply to lawsuits involving certain egregious misconduct and states could opt-out by statue.

NAW's vice president for government relations Jim Anderson notes "the efforts of the House...builds significant momentum for the work we need to do to move this leeislation through the Senate."

We wish them well.

Lumber

I " Yellow Pine Boords 'C', 'D' , #2

I " Yellow Pine Boords (Potterns)

2x4 thru 2xl2 #1, #2, #3 S4S Yellow Pine

1',2', 4',6" Yellow Pine Wolmonized l" Ponderoso Pine Boords 'C', 'D', #2, #3

2" Doug Fn #2 & Better, Utility

2" Spruce Pine Fir #2 & Better, Utility

Redwood & Cedor - Inventorv

Yellow Pine CDX & Sturdifloor

Yellow Pine BC Sonded

Yellow Pine Premium & Decorotive Sidings

Woferboords

Fir Sonded & Fir Sidings

Hordwood Plywoods

Hordboord Sidings - Mosoniie t1 &#2

Treoted Plywoods Avoiloble

. DuraPine@ Outdoor@ Wood (KDAT)

. DuraPine@ Glassic Decking (KDAT)

. Prime2 Wolmanized@ Wood

. Wolmanized@ Extra@ Water Repellent Wood

. Dricon@ Fire Retardant Treated Wood

. lsland@ Outdoor Furniture

. Heritage* Gazebos, Arbors . Poles, Posts, Piling

. Wolmanized@ Marine Treated Wood