Personal Injury Roundup No. 71 (3/19/2010)

A short week, since this is my spring break and I’m at the Cape (for the first time!).

Reform, Legislation, Policy

• Rather than trying to choose representative posts about the role of tort issues in the health care debate, maybe I’ll just point you to the Google News results for “tort reform.”
• On taxing punitive damages (TortsProf)

New Lawsuits

• Walter Olson takes a preemptive strike against the Toyota suits, based in part on research done by Ted Frank.  (National Review Onlinethis Atlantic piece) 
• In the dog-didn’t-bark category (if that’s the right use of that phrase), a couple of years ago, I did a much-linked-to post about a teen who was hit and killed by a roller coaster train after he jumped at least one fence, passing by fairly emphatic warning sign.  At the time, his survivors and their attorney were making noises as if a lawsuit was coming; so far as I can tell, that hasn’t happened.

Appeals

• Interesting summary judgment reversal on a go-kart injury case (MassTort.org)

Damages/Settlements

• Potential settlement in 9/11 Responders suit (TortsProf & links therein)

Miscellaneous

• Happy birthday to William Prosser!  (TortsProf) 
• Theme park, closed since 1993, owes big money for 2005 injury on the property (MassTort.org) 
• Miller & Zois has a weekly pharma-related roundup (Drug Recall Lawyer Blog) 
• It’s an Iqbal Extravaganza!  (Drug & Device Law Blog)

–BC