Wisconsin: State Supreme Court Strikes Down Cap on Malpractice Awards

A Wisconsin Supreme Court decision striking down a cap on medical malpractice pain and suffering awards will likely drive up insurance rates for thousands of state physicians, an executive with Wisconsin's largest medical malpractice insurer said Thursday.

It is unclear how much rates will go up following the verdict, in which the Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that a $350,000 cap on "non-economic" judgments is unconstitutional.

The cap is significant because health care industry leaders have argued that it has helped keep medical malpractice insurance premiums much lower in Wisconsin than in many other states, since insurers need not worry about multi-million-dollar damage awards.

State Supreme Court strikes down cap on malpractice awards (Milwaukee Business Journal, July 11)

Source: Milwaukee Business Journal

Posted: Friday, July 15, 2005 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:40:58 AM.

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