THE IOWA SENATE WILL SOON DEBATE SENATE FILE 148, WHICH WOULD SET A ONE MILLION DOLLAR CAP ON NON-ECONOMIC, PAIN AND SUFFERING DAMAGES IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS IN THE STATE.
JIM CARLIN IS A LOCAL ATTORNEY WHO HANDLES THOSE TYPES OF CASES.
HE ALSO SERVED SIOUXLAND AS A REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR AND SAYS HE ISN’T IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT’S BEING PROPOSED IN DES MOINES:
CARLIN11 OC…….. ARE EXORBITANT. :30
CARLIN ESTIMATES AROUND 350 MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASES IN IOWA ARE FILED EACH YEAR.
HE SAYS THERE IS OFTEN AN APPEAL PROCESS THAT TAKES PLACE AFTER A JURY OR JUDGE RENDERS A DECISION:
CARLIN12 OC…….. NOT REAL. :19
CARLIN SAYS THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE LOBBYING FOR THE CAPS TO LIMIT THEIR LIABILITY IN CASES:
CARLIN13 OC…..PLAINTIFFS LAWYERS. :24
CARLIN SAYS A STUDY SHOWS THAT THE SETTLEMENT COSTS AREN’T AS BIG A BITE AS THE LOBBYISTS WANT YOU TO THINK:
CARLIN14 OC……ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. :20
HE SAYS THE 7TH AMENDMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES US THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL.
CARLIN SAYS CAPS ON A JURY’S DECISION TO DECIDE SETTLEMENTS WOULD RESTRICT THAT RIGHT.
