Missouri High Court Hearing Challenge to Malpractice Limits

Missouri Supreme Court is considering whether to overturn limits on how much money people can be awarded in medical malpractice cases.

The case challenges a 2005 law that set a flat $350,000 cap for non-economic damages, such as for pain and suffering. Missouri’s previous limit had been $579,000, with an annual adjustment for inflation.

The 2005 law was a priority of then-Gov. Matt Blunt and the Republican-led Legislature. They said stricter limits were needed on medical malpractice lawsuits to hold down the cost of liability insurance for doctors and other medical providers.