Noneconomic Damages Reform

Problem

The broad and basically unguided discretion given juries in awarding damages for noneconomic loss is the single greatest contributor to the inequities and inefficiencies of the tort liability system.  It is a difficult issue to address objectively because of the emotions involved in cases of serious injury and because of the financial interests of plaintiffs’ lawyers. 

ATRA's Position:

ATRA supports a $250,000 limit on the award of noneconomic damages.

Opposition Opinion:

The personal injury bar’s argument against limiting noneconomic damages – that a jury’s award of noneconomic damages should not be reduced to an amount determined by legislators because a jury can determine on a case-by-case basis to what extent to compensate a plaintiff for harm suffered – fails to address the difference between noneconomic damages and economic damages, and fails to take into account the intangibility of noneconomic damages awards.  A limit on noneconomic damages limits the amount a plaintiff can recover for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium or companionship, and other intangible injuries for which it is difficult to assign a dollar amount.  Such a limit does not affect the amount a plaintiff can recover for economic damages, which include past and future medical bills, expected lost wages, and other tangible damages.    

Medical Liability Reform: Noneconomic Damages Reform: H.B.2 (special session) (2002); Amended Miss. Code Ann. § 85-5-7.

Mississippi|2002

Limits noneconomic damages to $500,000 until July 1, 2011, $750,000

[…]

Limits noneconomic damages to $500,000 until July 1, 2011, $750,000 from July 1, 2011 until July 1, 2017, and $1 million after July 1, 2017, not adjusted for inflation, unless a judge were to determine that a jury could impose punitive damages. Prohibits the disclosure to a jury of the noneconomic damages limit.


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