Two States Consider Increasing Damages Caps

Colorado and Oregon are both considering increases to their damage caps.  Colorado is currently debating a bill that would raise the cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases from $300,000 to about $450,000.  The bill was voted out of committee on Monday and will now be sent to the Senate floor for debate.  The details are here. 

Meanwhile, Oregon is reacting to a ruling of the Oregon Supreme Court late last year that the cap on damages payable by the state was unconstitutional as applied.  A task force has been set up to study the issue of raising the cap, as was urged in a concurring opinion of last year’s case.  The details are here.

–CJR