Supporters ask Illinois Supreme Court to uphold malpractice caps

A 2005 Illinois law limiting the amount of money juries may award in medical malpractice cases unfairly targets those most seriously injured who deserve the most compensation, lawyers have told the Illinois Supreme Court. Proponents of the law asked the court not to limit what they called lawmakers' attempt to stem a healthcare crisis. The law restricts awards on non-economic damages to $500,000 against doctors and $1 million against hospitals. It was aimed at lowering medial insurance rates blamed for driving physicians out of the state.