Selecting an attorney for legal cases is a very important decision. Please enter your information below to receive a Free Consultation from an attorney in your area:
Medical
Malpractice News
Latest Medical Malpractice Data Shows Decline In Case Filings
HARRISBURG, April 25, 2006 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy todayannounced the release of state court system data on medical malpractice case filings and verdicts for2005 that show a sustained decline in the number of med mal lawsuits filed statewide.
The AOPC began the systematic collection of data from each of Pennsylvania’s 67 countiesthree years ago as part of the Judiciary’s commitment to intergovernmental collaboration in addressingmedical malpractice litigation issues. At that time, counties also began to create a means of methodically tracking medical malpractice case information to enhance the focus and accuracy of future annual data collections. New statewide rules of Civil Procedure were promulgated — Pa.R.C.P. 1018 and 1042.16— to help identify med mal cases together with a new rule of Judicial Administration — Pa.R.J.A. 1904— to codify the reporting requirements.
“These figures, which are improving in accuracy each year, continue to provide criticalinformation that previously was unavailable to the Commonwealth’s citizens in such a comprehensiveformat,” Chief Justice Cappy said. “As the data is examined in greater detail and evaluated over time, itis anticipated that the numbers will provide a foundation for more informed decision making by all three branches of state government.”
The 2005 data show the statewide total number of med mal filings and the number and amountof jury and non-jury verdicts. The attached Table 1 shows there were 1,698 filings in 2005. Thisrepresents a 37.8 percent decline from the base years 2000-2002, the period just prior to the SupremeCourt’s initiation of the certificate of merit and venue rules. Also attached are Tables 2 and 3 detailing medical malpractice jury and non-jury verdict amounts for the calendar year 2005.
In comparison to earlier years, Table 2 reports that calendar year 2005 had the fewest number ofjury verdicts and the fewest number of verdicts exceeding $1 million.
An extensive collection of medical malpractice litigation data, court rules and other relatedinformation may be viewed in a special section of the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web site courts.state.pa.us
Drug-switching practices happen and are very dangerous
Another public-spirited drug giant, Merck, was forced to pay a settlement of $1.9 million to 17 states in 1995 for drug-switching practices involving its Medco subsidiary. Medco pharmacists, who had given excessively favorable treatment to Merck products, were thereafter required to reveal their Merck connection to their customers.
Newsroom
News about Medical Malpractice cases in South Carolina and nationwide:
Definition:
The pre-trial process, such as a deposition, by which one party discovers the evidence that will be relied upon at trial by the opposing party.
Joint-and-several liability
Definition:
Liability in which each liable party is individually responsible for the entire obligation. Under joint-and-several liability, a plaintiff may choose to seek full damages from all, some, or any one of the parties alleged to have committed the injury.
Board-certified specialist
Definition:
A physician who has successfully completed an ACGME-approved residency program or its equivalent in an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)-recognized specialty and has been certified by an ABMS member board
Legal Disclaimers All attorney listings are a paid attorney advertisement, and do not in any way constitute a referral or endorsement by an approved or authorized lawyer referral service. The information provided on South Carolina Medical Malpractice.com is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys
general information related to legal issues commonly encountered. Your access
to and use of this website is subject to additional Terms
and Conditions.
Local Professional? Generate new business today
Call 866-227-9356 or contact a sales rep
Did You Know?