The Illinois Supreme Court struck down the state's medical malpractice law, saying it violates separation of powers by allowing lawmakers to interfere with a judge's ability to reduce verdicts, the Chicago Tribune reports. The ruling, which challenged the constitutionality of damage caps for doctors and hospitals, is being watched by the healthcare industry and employers that see caps on damages as a way to tame rising healthcare costs. The ruling could also figure in the national healthcare debate, the Tribune reports.
