Wis. Senate Passes Med-Mal Reform Bill, Awaiting Governor’s Signature

The American Insurance Association and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies are praising the recent actions of the Wisconsin Legislature in their passage of major tort reform legislation.

The Legislature this week sent Gov. Jim Doyle a bill that would put a $750,000 limit on pain-and-suffering awards in medical malpractice cases, as legislators tried for a second time to find a number both the governor and state Supreme Court would accept. Gov. Doyle vetoed a bill last year saying that the limits were not high enough.

The Senate passed the bill 25-8, which was more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a Doyle veto.

Last week, the Assembly passed the same cap, 74-22, also more than the necessary two-thirds majority.