TILLINGHAST FINDS NATION'S TORT COSTS INCREASE BY 13.3% IN
2002.
The nation's total insured and self-insured tort costs
increased to $233.4 billion in 2002, an increase of $27.4 billion, or
13.3 percent, over the $206 billion of tort costs in 2001, the . . .
DOCTORS MAY PROCEED WITH RICO CLASS ACTION AGAINST HMOs.
Some 700,000 doctors who have filed a class action against managed
care companies may proceed with their claims under the Racketeer
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, U.S. District Judge . . .
WATCH ON THE MEDIA.
The Wall Street Journal published an opinion article on its Dec. 4
editorial page by William D. Novelli, the CEO of AARP, who angered
Democrats when his 35-million-member organization endorsed the . . .
MISSOURI COURT BLOCKS REGULATOR'S RULE ON WORKERS'
COMP.
A Missouri court has issued an injunction blocking the state
Department of Insurance from enforcing rules requiring workers'
compensation insurers to pay for services by managed care . . .
MASSACHUSETTS ARCHBISHOP'S RESIDENCE GOES UP FOR
SALE.
The Archdiocese of Boston announced Dec. 3 that it will sell the
archbishop's residence to help pay an $85 million settlement of
sexual abuse claims. A spokesman declined to speculate on the . . .
NEW JERSEY WEIGHS CHANGE IN VERBAL THRESHOLD.
The New Jersey Senate Commerce Committee is considering legislation
that would change the state's "verbal threshold" for
injury in auto crashes.
The bill, S2533/A3531, would modify the Automobile . . .
FLORIDA CEMETERIES AGREE TO $100 MILLION SETTLEMENT.
The parent company of two Florida cemeteries accused of mishandling
and moving human remains has agreed to a $100 million settlement of a
class action brought by 2,000 families in Broward, . . .
ARKANSAS MAN GETS TRIAL ON CLAIMS AGAINST JAILERS.
An Arkansas man may proceed with his claim Benton County jailers
violated his civil rights when they entered his cell and beat him, the
Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Dec. 1.
The . . .
WINSTON NAMED NAMIC'S VICE PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL
AFFAIRS.
David A. Winston was named Dec. 5 to the post of vice president of
federal affairs for the National Association of Mutual Insurance
Companies.
"David is a well-known lobbyist who has earned the . . .
AIG ELECTS KANAK VICE CHAIRMAN AND CO-CHIEF OPERATING
OFFICER.
American International Group Chairman Maurice Greenberg announced
Dec. 4 Donald Kanak has been elected to AIG's board of directors as
vice chairman and co-chief operating officer.
Kanak, 50, who . . .
TOP PLAINTIFFS' LAWYERS SEEK DONATIONS FOR EDWARDS.
Prominent plaintiffs' lawyers, including former presidents of
the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, have written colleagues
asking them to make $250 contributions to the campaign of Sen. . . .
8TH CIRCUIT ALLOWS ADA CLAIMS FOR HOSTILE WORK
ENVIRONMENT.
Joining other federal appellate circuits, the Eighth U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals ruled Dec. 1 that plaintiffs may recover damages for a
hostile work environment under the Americans with . . .
NATIONSBANK SETTLEMENT UPHELD OVER PLAINTIFFS'
OBJECTIONS.
The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a $490 million
settlement of a shareholder class action resulting from the merger of
NationsBank and BankAmerica, despite objections of some lead . . .
BUSH SIGNS FAIR & ACCURATE CREDIT TRANSACTIONS ACT.
President Bush signed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
of 2003 into law Dec. 4.
Bush said the legislation is an important tool for expanding access
to credit and other financial . . .
SUIT OF THE WEEK: GAMBLER LOSES THE BIG ONE-A RICO
LAWSUIT.
A compulsive gambler cannot sue the casino that took his money
under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the
Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Dec. 5.
"Because we . . .
HIGH COURT ISSUES NARROW ADA RULING.
Employers may apply a blanket policy of refusing to rehire workers
fired or violating workplace conduct rules even if it has the effect of
barring rehabilitated drug addicts protected by the . . .
AUTO MANUFACTURERS VOLUNTARILY AGREE TO SAFER REDESIGNS.
Fifteen auto manufacturers announced Dec. 4 they would redesign
their vehicles, including sports utility vehicles, to reduce the risk of
injury in collisions between smaller and larger vehicles. . . .
FRIST DELAYS SENATE VOTE ON CLASS ACTION UNTIL JANUARY
2004.
Although he has two more votes than he needs now to end debate on a
class action bill, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) said Dec. 5
he had decided to delay scheduling a vote until after the . . .
VIRGINIA DEFAMATION AWARD CUT FROM $10 MILLION TO $1
MILLION.
A Virginia judge has ordered a reduction in a jury's
defamation award against a television station that reported cocaine had
been found in a man's house from $10 million to $1 million.
Facing the . . .
TEXAS: JUDGE'S ADMISSION OF GRIEF EXPERT'S TESTIMONY IS
UPHELD.
The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld admission by a
federal judge's admission of testimony by a "grief
expert" in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by a man whose wife and
daughter . . .
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