tort reform

Venue bill named No. 1 tort priority for Senate GOP

Lawmakers returned to Jefferson City on Jan. 9 for the 100th session of the Missouri General Assembly. It promises to be a very different session than last year’s. Most notably, lawmakers are working with a new governor, Mike Parson, who succeeded former Gov. Eric Greitens last year after a series of scandals led Greitens to resign on June 1.

Missouri’s tort law back under review for second time in two years

The court last Wednesday heard arguments in a constitutional challenge to a statute that says plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases must get a doctor’s expert opinion at the outset of filing of their case.

Commentary: Big malpractice awards don’t increase medical costs

What defense lawyers seem not to realize is that tort reform hasn’t worked for 25 years. And large verdicts may be the most effective drivers in making health care safer.

Novel bill attempts to restore med mal caps

Can you change a constitutional right without actually amending the constitution? Sponsors of a bill under consideration in a Missouri Senate committee are trying to find out.

Buried in the budget: health courts

Buried in the White House’s federal budget plan is a proposal to encourage states to reform their medical malpractice laws.

Judge: Medical bills law unconstitutional

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Stephen Goldman created a stir when he declared the medical bills statute of Missouri’s tort reform law unconstitutional. In an order granting the plaintiff’s motion […]

St. Louis jury hits attorney with $2M legal malpractice verdict

After an 11-day legal malpractice trial in St. Louis Circuit Court, a jury ruled against St. Louis attorney Daniel Finney Jr. on Sept. 8 and ordered him to pay $2 […]

Tort reform plan unveiled

President's health care speech proposes state-level changes

Curbing medical malpractice lawsuits is a leading goal of business groups and Republicans, and President Barack Obama on Wednesday night during a joint session of Congress said he is pursuing a pilot project designed to prevent doctors from practicing "defensive medicine" by ordering unnecessary tests for fear of being sued.

Splitsville

Pace of law firm breakups accelerates

Two years after making partner at Langdon & Emison, Rob Sullivan (pictured) couldn't see a way to advance. Sullivan, 40, figured the only way he could have more of a stake was to get out of the firm. So he did, along with three Langdon & Emison associates. They joined with Jose Bautista as name partners in a new Kansas City plaintiffs' fi[...]

Medical bill law criticized by judge

The medical bills statute of the 2005 tort reform law is unconstitutional, a St. Louis County judge said Thursday as he granted a plaintiff’s motion for a new trial. Judge […]

Judge declares medical bills statute unconstitutional

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misspelled Spencer Farris’ last name. Below is the correct version. The medical bills statute of the 2005 tort reform law is unconstitutional, a […]