Profession
Judge rules attorney fee to defray liability premiums is constitutional
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 18, 2005
A New Jersey law imposing a $75 fee on attorneys to help subsidize medical liability insurance premiums does not violate lawyers' constitutional rights, a state judge ruled last month.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Lyons threw out a challenge by the New Jersey State Bar Assn., which had argued against the Medical Care Access and Responsibility and Patients First Act. Lyons ruled the fee was rational because attorneys have a close relationship with the medical field. The bar association is considering an appeal.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/07/18/prbf0718.htm.