INJURY SUITS COST CITY $570 MILLION:

TITLE: INJURY SUITS COST CITY $570 MILLION:
New York City paid a record $570 million in 2004 on personal injury cases that range from medical malpractice to traffic accidents. The cases cost the city $12 million more than last year and medical malpractice cases made up nearly a third of the jury verdicts and settlements paid out.

City Tort Chief Fay Leoussis said hospitals treat people in uneasy circumstances. She told the New York Post they “are going to create a certain percentage of high-end cases, it’s just the volume.” He said the increase was caused by the city settling more cases faster and reducing the backlog. Also, appellate courts are letting more expensive verdicts stand, he added.

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