Posted on 08/06/2009 3:52:38 PM PDT by jazusamo
Congress adjourns for August recess this week. As lawmakers try to explain to their constituents back home why the world's most advanced health care system should be altered, the one special interest that ought to be targeted is the only one that may get off scott-free -- trial lawyers. In fact, the lawyers want a tax cut.
Rather than worrying about defending their own ill-gotten turf, plaintiffs' attorneys are plotting ways to garner more goodies. Linda Lipsen, senior vice president of the American Association for Justice, the national organization for plaintiffs' lawyers, is advocating a sneak attack to secure a special tax break. According to Chris Rizo of LegalNewsline.com, who reported from the association's annual meeting last week, the tax break would let plaintiffs' lawyers deduct certain expenses upfront rather than at the end of litigation -- thus encouraging frivolous lawsuits in search of jackpot justice. That would cost the Treasury billions.
"You cannot have a stand-alone bill to help lawyers ... so we have to tuck it into something," Ms. Lipsen told the delegates.
Mr. Rizo reported: "Lipsen said the AAJ is working to 'fix this,' noting that the association has the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y."
"The problem is there is not a politically palatable vehicle to carry the legislation," Ms. Lipsen said, according to Mr. Rizo's reporting.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Easy, nationalize trial lawyers and cap their pay at $500,000 per year.
Then there is obamacare. When there is a problem or grievance with the government bureaucrats, one will not be able to put forward a complaint. It must be accomplished by a certified lawyer.
Good legislation. Plaintiff’s lawyer don’t get paid unless they win a case. Insurance defense lawyers can bill by the hour. So, that puts the victims at a disadvantage because their lawyers are having to fund litigation out of their own pocket. A medmal case can cost $60,000 or more to get to trial.
Oh, BTW, what was that news I saw this morning? Hospital mistakes kill about 100,000 Americans per year. Sure, lets make it hard on the victims.
parsy.
And they will SUE doctors and hospitals, but won’t be able to sue the government.
One good thing about the Healthcare Takeover—you won’t have anyone to sue. You’re crazy if you think suing a hospital will be any different than suing a judge. Ever hear of suing a school for turning out ignoramuses?
I don’t buy that though I’m no authority on malpractice. I do have a close relative who wanted to semi retire that’s a surgeon but had to hang it up all together because of the cost of malpractice insurance and in all his years of practice was never sued.
Legitimate cases have no lack of attorneys to represent them but there are many frivolous suits brought and it seems this would encourage more.
You really can’t afford to bring a frivolous suit. At least not in most states. A lot of that stuff is urban legend. Like the MacDonalds case.
parsy.
There will still be suits. Its just that there won’t be any damages for meds since all meds will be paid anyway.
parsy.
Go look at Canada and England and how that works. Your gravy train is nearing a dead end, along with the health care you have taken for granted. Lawyers get sick, too. And that cranky doc who knows you’re a lawyer is now a guv bureaucrat and he thinks you need a barium enema.
Gravy train is misleading. Medmal cases are handled by very few attorneys.
parsy.
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