Utah AG Calls for Punitive Damages Cap

On Monday, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff stated that he is open to a cap on punitive damages awards. 

To help improve the state’s legal climate, Shurtleff said caps on punitive damage awards would, among other things, help prevent physicians from being driven from Utah by skyrocketing medical malpractice premiums, as has happened in Nevada.

“A lot of times those punitive damages awards are outrageous, and the cumulative effect, particularly when it comes to medical malpractice litigation, can create a situation like they have in Nevada,” Shurtleff said.

Doctors are just leaving the Silver State because they can’t afford their insurance premiums anymore, “and a big part of that is because of these horrific damage awards that are being awarded in some of these cases,” he said.

Via Legal Newsline.

– SBS