Tort Reform News

Study: Tort Reform May Not Curb Defensive Medicine or Fear of Suits

Physicians’ fears of being sued for malpractice are out of proportion to their actual risk of being sued, according to a recent study. The study by a University of Iowa researcher and colleagues also suggests that tort reform legislation aimed …

Illinois Faces Physician Shortage Due to Malpractice Liability, Study Warns

Half of all graduating medical residents or fellows trained in Illinois leave the state to practice medicine elsewhere, in large part due to the medical liability environment in Illinois, according to a new study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of …

Medical Malpractice Claims Frequency Declining, Severity Stabilizing

Health care organizations’ medical malpractice claim frequency appears to be declining slightly and severity is leveling off, according to a new report released today. Data collected from 1,600 hospitals in report years 1997 through 2007 reveals that the most severe …

Tort Reform Takes Back Seat in Alabama’s Race for Governor

Huge jury verdicts, once potent political issues in a state known as “tort hell,” are getting little mention in this year’s race for Alabama governor. Dr. Robert Bentley, the Republican nominee, has called for limits on medical malpractice suits, but …

Ratings Recap: Builders Group, FMH Group, MAG Mutual, Nationwide (Fla.)

A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” of Builders Insurance Group and its three pooled members: Builders Insurance (A Mutual Captive …

Ratings: Evergreen RRG, Farmers Mutual Branch County, Mid-Continent, Ophthalmic Mutual

A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of’ B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb-” of Vermont-based Evergreen USA, Risk Retention Group, Inc. Best also affirmed the …

North Carolina Insurers Against Change to Negligence Rule

North Carolina property and liability insurers are taking their case to the public to impede an effort in the Legislature to change how monetary awards are determined when somebody gets hit by a car while crossing the street or slips …

Ratings: Partners Mutual, Farmers (NJ), Premier Group, United Farm Indiana, Real State, Kansas Med Mutual

A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of Wisconsin-based Partners Mutual Insurance Company. Best said the negative outlook reflects “Partners’ trend …

Store Shooting Case Tests Mississippi Damages Limit, Premises Liability

Attorneys for Ronnie Lymas go to the Mississippi Supreme Court on June 8 hoping to resurrect a $4.1 million jury verdict vehemently opposed by dozens of trade associations and Republican Gov. Haley Barbour. Critics say Lymas is not legally entitled …

Missouri High Court Narrows Medical Malpractice Limits

The Missouri Supreme Court has slightly narrowed the scope of a 2005 state law limiting how much money can be awarded to people in medical malpractice cases. The high court’s March 23 ruling provided a victory for those injured before …