Government
Wis. governor vetoes noneconomic damages caps in liability cases
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 19, 2005
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed new caps on pain and suffering damages, declaring they were not different enough from previous efforts that did not pass the state Supreme Court's constitutional test. "Approving a law that would quickly be overturned would not do anyone any good," he said in a statement.
The malpractice bill would have capped limits at $450,000 for adult plaintiffs and $550,000 for plaintiffs 18 or younger. Susan Turney, MD, CEO of the Wisconsin Medical Society called the veto "disappointing."
"We're very concerned that the absence of caps will harm Wisconsin's historically stable medical liability environment," she said in a statement.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/12/19/gvbf1219.htm.
