PublicNuisanceWire.com

“The statutory cap on non-economic damages was an essential piece of the 2004 tort reform,” Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour argued in an amicus brief recently filed in the case of Double Quick Inc. v. Ronnie Lee Lymas.

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has filed an amicus brief in the case of Double Quick Inc. v. Ronnie Lee Lymas, asking the state supreme court to affirm the constitutionality of a tort reform cap enacted by the state legislature in 2004.

Mississippi 's tort reform, passed in 2004, has helped reduce medical malpractice claims by as much as 90 percent.

Besides turning the spotlight on judicial hellholes, the American Tort Reform Foundation also highlights “jurisdictions where judges, legislators, the electorate and the media intervened to stem abusive judicial practices.”

This year's edition of Judicial Hellholes bestows the infamous title on six jurisdictions: South Florida, West Virginia, Cook County (Ill.), Atlantic County (NJ), New Mexico Appellate Courts, and New York City.

“The benefits from lawsuit reform add up to real economic stimulus that does not cost a single taxpayer dollar," says Lawrence J. McQuillan of the Pacific Research Institute.

Freeing up the resources now consumed by tort abuse “would enable the creation of new innovative products, new companies, and new jobs at higher wages and with better health care benefits,” says Lawrence J. McQuillan of the Pacific Research Institute.

Eight of California’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over a two-year period. Tom Scott of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse talked to Public Nuisance Wire about these startling figures.

A new report from California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse shows that eight of the state’s largest cities and nine of its largest counties spent $504.1 million to deal with lawsuits over the course of fiscal years 2006-2008.

The recent health care bill passed by the House specifically prohibits financial incentives for states that implement caps or limits on malpractice awards and attorneys fees.

"Too many lawmakers and analysts still stubbornly insist that medical liability lawsuits do not contribute significantly to rising health care costs," notes Tiger Joyce of the American Tort Reform Association.

In recent postings on its website, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) outlines its position on medical malpractice, product liability, and tort reform.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) -- While California lawmakers are traditionally busy in their home districts during autumn, this year they will be called into at least three special sessions to address a bevy of complex issues.

NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) -- Medical malpractice litigation has driven up U.S. health care costs dramatically, translating into higher costs for consumers, a study said Tuesday.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt laments the lack of "a sense of urgency for national tort reform." He knows that reform "can cut costs, create jobs, and increase the quality of care available to patients."

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Legal Newsline) -- Attorney General Troy King said Thursday he would like judges in five counties to throw out lawsuits against a group of pharmacies, saying that the suits are frivolous.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Florida passed tort reform legislation in 2003 to control excessive litigation in workers’ compensation cases and contain medical costs. N. Michael Helvacian of the National Center for Policy Analysis explains the impact.