Madigan Slates Hearing On Rauner Plan To Limit Medical Malpractice Awards
From the Illinois Observer
News last Friday of the collapse of the state’s pension reform law overshadowed a new step by Speaker Michael Madigan to challenge Gov. Bruce Rauner’s agenda.
While the Illinois Supreme Court on Friday was rolling out its decision that the state pension reform law was unconstitutional, Madigan was simultaneously announcing that he will convene another House “Committee of the Whole” at noon Tuesday, May 12, to discuss the financial awards granted under Illinois’ civil justice system to victims and their families when killed or injured in accidents caused by medical or corporate or negligence.
Rauner has called for changes to the state’s tort law that would limit financial damages to victims in order to improve the state’s business climate.
“Our justice system is often the last chance for victims and their families after their lives were torn apart by acts of carelessness,” Madigan said. “Even those who have never set foot in a courtroom are protected by our system because it allows any person to expose shoddy products and reckless actions that make our state less safe.”
House lawmakers will hear from victims of medical malpractice and the family members of individuals killed in accidents or injured by products.
Madigan sought to turn the tables on Rauner’s regular criticism of the influence of “special interests” in Springfield by hitting the governor’s business allies as “special interests.”
“When Illinois victims’ protections are discussed, unfortunately the bottom line sometimes is considered more important than what is fair and right,” said Madigan. “Special interests spend millions in attempts to change our court system to work against regular citizens.”
Madigan’s newest House hearing comes on the heels of a similar House Committee of the Whole meeting convened last Tuesday to defend the state’s workers’ compensation system that was reformed in 2011. Rauner and business groups insist that the 2011 changes failed to go enough to eases employer costs for injured workers.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Illinois Observer
News last Friday of the collapse of the state’s pension reform law overshadowed a new step by Speaker Michael Madigan to challenge Gov. Bruce Rauner’s agenda.
While the Illinois Supreme Court on Friday was rolling out its decision that the state pension reform law was unconstitutional, Madigan was simultaneously announcing that he will convene another House “Committee of the Whole” at noon Tuesday, May 12, to discuss the financial awards granted under Illinois’ civil justice system to victims and their families when killed or injured in accidents caused by medical or corporate or negligence.
Rauner has called for changes to the state’s tort law that would limit financial damages to victims in order to improve the state’s business climate.
“Our justice system is often the last chance for victims and their families after their lives were torn apart by acts of carelessness,” Madigan said. “Even those who have never set foot in a courtroom are protected by our system because it allows any person to expose shoddy products and reckless actions that make our state less safe.”
House lawmakers will hear from victims of medical malpractice and the family members of individuals killed in accidents or injured by products.
Madigan sought to turn the tables on Rauner’s regular criticism of the influence of “special interests” in Springfield by hitting the governor’s business allies as “special interests.”
“When Illinois victims’ protections are discussed, unfortunately the bottom line sometimes is considered more important than what is fair and right,” said Madigan. “Special interests spend millions in attempts to change our court system to work against regular citizens.”
Madigan’s newest House hearing comes on the heels of a similar House Committee of the Whole meeting convened last Tuesday to defend the state’s workers’ compensation system that was reformed in 2011. Rauner and business groups insist that the 2011 changes failed to go enough to eases employer costs for injured workers.
Read more in our daily News Update...