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The Missouri House began debate on a bill that would limit liability lawsuits and awards.

March 2, 2004
By: Almitra Smith
State Capital Bureau

The Missouri House began work on a bill that would put limits on liability lawsuits and awards across the state.

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The bill eliminates claims for pain and suffering and caps noneconomic damages at four-houndred thousand dollars.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Richard Byrd from Kirkwood, says these steps will reduce medical malpractice insurance premiums for doctors without blocking malpractice claims.

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Contents: "This bill is not designed to take away anybody's right to claim a legitimate amount for a real injury. We don't want to take away those rights."

Democrat Jeff Harris, who opposes the bill, says there is no proof that the bill will reduce malpractice premiums.

From the state Capitol, I'm Almitra Smith. Date: 3/2/04

Missouri doctors met to say they've had enough of what they say is out of control malpractice suits. Almitra Smith has more from Jefferson City.

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They say they can no longer afford to practice medicine in Missouri, and something needs to be done now.

Joined by leading Republican lawmakers, the Missouri State Medical Association announced its support for a law that would limit medical malpractice lawsuits.

Jefferson City Medical Group president Richard Jennett says this would help both doctors and patients.

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Contents: "There's an economic trade off. We either have to limit litigation or by default we are going to limit access to health care."

The proposed bill would also limit non-medical claims like product liability suits. Noneconomic damages would be capped at four-hundred thousand dollars. And pain and suffering damages would be eliminated altogether.

From the State Capitol, I'm Almitra Smith.

In what looks like it will be a long process, the Missouri House has begun debate on a liability limit bill. Almitra Smith has more from Jefferson City.

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The Missouri House has begun debate on a second year effort to limit lawsuits and awards.

The bill would cap liability damages for a variety of civil lawsuits.

The bills sponsor Republican Richard Byrd from Kirkwood says this will not block all lawsuits.

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Contents: "This bill is not designed to take away anybody's right to claim a legitimate amount for real injury. We don't want to take away those rights."

Democrat Jeff Harris says the bill does not go far enough.

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Contents: "This bill has not insurance regulation or reform in it. It has provisions, in fact one was just added this morning, that apply across the board. They apply to so called fender-binder lawsuits, they apply to any type of personal injury action."

The bill has support from several medical associations. From the State Capitol, I'm Almitra Smith.