The Wisconsin Senate will vote on Tuesday (Oct. 27) on legislation that will drive up health care costs by expanding medical liability. Senate Bill 203 allows “loss of society and companionship” damages for adult children and their parents in medical malpractice cases.
To see read WCJC’s full press release, read here.
As the debate over health care reform continues in Washington, the issue of medical liability is also gaining quite a bit of attention.
That’s because the Congressional Budget Office, the non-partisan research arm of Congress, issued an analysis of proposals aimed at limiting costs to related to medical malpractice liability. The CBO found that by implementing certain medical liability measures, federal spending would be reduced by $41 billion over ten years and reduce the federal deficit by $54 billion.
In addition to the CBO’s finding, the Pacific Research Institute released a study regarding the costs of medical malpractice liability. According to the study, medical malpractice tort losses totaled $5.894 billion in 2008. For more information on the costs associated with medical liability lawsuits, please visit the Pacific Research Institute’s Website.
A legal publication recently noted the efforts in Wisconsin to defeat a number of provisions that would have greatly expanded liability and increased litigation. Continue reading “Wisconsin’s Efforts in Defeating Contributory Negligence Provisions Discussed in National Publication” →
On Thursday, August 27 (10:00 a.m. – 415 NW, State Capitol) the Assembly Committee on Workforce Development will hold a public hearing on Assembly Bill 367. Continue reading “Bill Would Prohibit Employment Discrimination Based on Credit Report” →
According to PointofLaw.com, plaintiffs’ attorneys are seeking a $1.6 billion federal tax break for contingent-fee lawyers that would allow them deduct expenses as made, rather than in the year of settling a suit. Continue reading “Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Seek Tax Break” →
The Wisconsin Supreme Court today in a 6-0 opinion (Justice Annette Zielger did not participate) reversed a lower court decision that dismissed a medical malpractice claim against an emergency room physician. Continue reading “Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules on Medical Malpractice Case” →
In another decision handed down on July 17, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled (5-2) ruled that the Wisconsin Family or Medical Leave Act (WFMLA) does not grant a right to jury civil trial in an action to recover damages. Continue reading “Wisconsin Supreme Court: No Right to Jury Trial under Wisconsin’s Family or Medical Leave Act” →
On July 17, the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a consumer who brings a claim under Wisconsin’s Lemon Law, who then decides to purchase the defective vehicle, is not entitled to recover the amount the purchase price. Continue reading “Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules on Lemon Law” →
The Wisconsin Supreme Court on July 14 issued a decision (4-2) affirming an appeal from a lower court that Deer & Company was not liable under strict products liability for an injury caused to a bystander. Continue reading “Strict Products Liability Claim Rejected by High Court” →
By Jim Hough
On July 14, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that the circuit court in Milwaukee correctly concluded that the plaintiff’s complaint failed to state a claim of defective design of white lead carbonate pigment ultimately used in paint and coatings. The ruling upheld the dismissal of design defect claims in a suit alleging that certain manufacturers are liable under theories of strict (product) liability and negligence. Continue reading “Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of Lead Pigment Design Defect Claim” →