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AJC.com > Legislature > Georgia Beat > Archives > 2005 > February > 14 > Entry
Legislature caps medical malpractice jury awards
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A controversial measure to cap medical malpractice awards passed the state Senate today by a 38-15 vote and needs only Gov. Sonny Perdue’s signature to become law.
The bill, which failed Thursday by one vote, needed 29 “yes” votes for a constitutional majority.
Introduced and approved in the Senate a few weeks ago, the measure was amended to cap pain and suffering awards at $350,000 and won approval in the House Thursday. But in a vote that surprised many, the amended measure failed when it came back to the Senate that day.
Several Democrats once again urged their colleagues not to support the bill in its current form and allow the measure to be fine-tuned in conference committee.
“All I’m asking is to slow down,” said Minority Whip David Adelman (D-Atlanta).
Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome), the bill’s sponsor, told the chamber that some details of the bill still could be tinkered with. His promise won him the support of several senators who opposed the measure last week.
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