May 17, 2005

Texas and Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, aren't the only states to act this year. Reader Mark Arnold writes:

[In March,] the Missouri legislature passed some truly significant tort reform. The bill prohibits introduction in evidence of an apology. More significantly, it caps punitive damages at five times the actual or $500,000, whichever is greater, and eliminates joint and several liability for any defendant not responsible for at least 51% of the damages. It also puts an end to the games plaintiffs used to play to get cases in favored venues like Jackson County and the City of St. Louis.