FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2011

OKLAHOMA CITY—Legislation that places a $350,000 cap on noneconomic damages passed the House today.

House Bill 2128, by House Speaker Kris Steele, does not impact damages such as lost wages, medical expenses and future loss of expected wages.  The bill also lays out exceptions to the cap cases of gross negligence, reckless disregard, intentional actions, or malicious conduct.This bill is one of several under current consideration in the Legislature that aim to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits filed in Oklahoma, reduce medical costs and improve access to medical care, especially in rural Oklahoma.
 
“This legislation will protect those with legitimate cases, all while bringing more cost-certainty to our state’s legal system for businesses and the medical community,” said State Chamber President Fred Morgan. “This meaningful legislation surpasses the lawsuit reforms passed in Texas.”

A coalition of a variety of interests has formed in support of the bill, including The State Chamber of Oklahoma, the Tulsa Metro Chamber, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, American Justice Partnership, American Tort Reform Association, Covington Aircraft, Devon Energy, Oklahoma Hospital Association, Oklahoma Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians, Oklahoma Society of Anesthesiologists, Oklahoma State Medical Association, Alliance of Physicians for Tort Reform, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, among others.
 
This legislation will help move Oklahoma forward and help the state compete with Texas, Missouri, Mississippi and other states that have passed significant lawsuit reform in recent years.

HB 2128 passed the House today with a vote of 57-40 and now moves to the Senate for further considerations.
 
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