Find me a single state where such limits were followed by rate decreases
Fucked up action of note:
Sen. Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone) said the home phone numbers of the nine Republicans who had voted against the bill Thursday had been e-mailed to supporters of the legislation.
Jury award limits OK'd
Medical malpractice bill awaits governor's signature
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/15/05
In an abrupt about-face, the state Senate approved legislation Monday to overhaul Georgia's civil justice system that was hailed by medical and business lobbies and condemned by trial lawyers and consumer advocates.
On Thursday, the Senate fell one vote short of approving the bill approved only moments earlier by the House to set limits on damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. But after a weekend of intense lobbying, the Senate voted 38-15 in favor of the bill.
"There's been a pent-up demand for comprehensive civil justice reform," Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) said after the vote. "When push came to shove, it was time to make it happen. I don't think anybody wanted to extend the emotional debate over this issue any longer."
Senate Bill 3 imposes a cap of $350,000 or up to $1.05 million in multidefendant cases on jury awards for malpractice victims' pain and suffering.
The legislation also will make it extremely difficult for a victim of malpractice to win damages, including lost wages and medical bills, for injuries caused by negligence in an emergency room procedure.
The bill's sponsors expect Gov. Sonny Perdue to sign it into law, but a spokeswoman for the governor said no signing date has been scheduled. Perdue will conduct a "thorough and deliberate review" of the legislation, Heather Hedrick said.
On Thursday, nine Republicans in the Senate voted against the bill, even though the Republican leadership has made overhauling civil justice a top priority this session. On Monday, the nine Republicans switched and voted for the bill. Four Democrats also changed their minds and voted in favor.
