Initiatives on health care litigation

Two initiatives currently before the legislature address health care litigation. Among other things, Initiative 330 would limit noneconomic damages and contingency fees. Among other things, Initiative 336 changes the requirements for initiating med mal lawsuits.

The February issue of the KCBA Bar Bulletin has opinion pieces:

• Pro I-330 by Mary Spillane of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC. She is one of the attorneys representing the Washington State Medical Association in connection with I-330.
• Pro I-336 by Karen K. Koehler, of Stritmatter Kessler Whelan Withey Coluccio. She is WSTLA’s Second Vice President of Legislative Steering.

Other information:

I-330:

• Text.
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary bill report.
• Advocacy group: Doctors for Sensible Lawsuit Reform, http://www.yesoni330.org.
• Washington State Medical Association press release announcing the initiative (June 17, 2004).
• WSMA press release comparing I-330 and I-336 (Sept. 16, 2004).
• Doctors for Sensible Lawsuit Reform press release (Dec. 28, 2004) (posted on WSMA website).
• WSTLA's "Action Alert" opposed to I-330.

I-336:

• Text.
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary bill report.
• Advocacy group: Citizens for Better Safer Healthcare.
• WSTLA's "Action Alert" in favor of I-336.

Note: this post was updated on 3/7/05 to reflect the changes in the URLs for the Bar Bulletin articles.

Filed in: initiatives, legislation, med-mal