[Jan] Vest said his firm's decision to expand to Belleville stemmed in large part from Gov. Rod Blagojevich's signing into law in August a landmark tort reform bill. It caps damage awards for "pain and suffering" in malpractice lawsuits at $500,000 for doctors and $1 million for hospitals.

"I have to say honestly that did make a difference," Vest said of the new law.

(Mike Fitzgerald, "Belleville, O'Fallon Get New Doctors", Belleville News-Democrat, Oct. 14) (via ICJL).