Oklahoma Senate Votes for $250K Limit on Jury Awards

February 25, 2011

The Oklahoma Senate has approved a bill to limit pain and suffering awards to $250,000, despite concerns from members that the decision should be made by juries.

The Senate voted 29-18 for the bill by Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore. The measure now heads to the House for consideration.

Leaders in the Republican-controlled House and Senate have said such changes are needed to reduce the insurance costs that doctors and businesses pay.

But the bill came under fire from Democrats and Republicans who say they feared injured Oklahomans wouldn’t be properly compensated for damages.

Claremore Democrat Sen. Sean Burrage asked whether it was worth $250,000 to be horribly disfigured or lose the ability to walk.

The proposal doesn’t limit actual damages, like medical costs or loss of income.

Topics Politics Oklahoma

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Latest Comments

  • February 28, 2011 at 3:27 pm
    Proud Conservative says:
    Obama's buddies, the Trial Lawyers want to keep the present system in place to get the multi-million dollar settlements that they get the lions share of. They also like the b... read more
  • February 28, 2011 at 11:46 am
    Freedom figher says:
    This is good for our state. What most people won't tell you, the attorney's in our state take 60% of the awards of injured. Then they cry that we are not letting people be c... read more
  • February 25, 2011 at 6:37 pm
    The Underwriter says:
    This has worked well in California for a long period of time. It has had a positive impact on the cost and availability of insurance. California also put a cap on the percenta... read more

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