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Ericksen calls tort reform
package passed by House insignificant
Rep. Doug Ericksen
today
said a package of bills passed by the House could best be described as
“tort lite.” These bills will do absolutely nothing to help reform the
crisis in Washington’s civil justice system.
“This is a tremendous loss for the people of Washington,” said Ericksen,
R-Ferndale. “We need to move past the days of voting on bills that have
nothing of substance behind the title. Citizens elect us to create
solutions and these bills solve nothing.”
Ericksen said the package lacks key elements of true tort reform and
will leave citizens with the impression that the Legislature has
addressed a critical problem, when in reality nothing has been done.
“This package of bills
fails to address the underlying issues that have made our tort system
among the most expensive in the world,” said Ericksen. “Our legal system
impacts every aspect of our life, from Washington’s health care system
to the cost of housing. Employers are charging higher prices to cover
escalating liability insurance costs, making them less competitive.
Doctors are finding medical malpractice insurance unaffordable and many
are retiring or leaving the state. Citizens are ultimately bearing the
brunt of this problem in the form of lower wages, fewer jobs, higher
insurance premiums and reduced access to health care.”
Ericksen said the package
fails on several fronts, including:
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Addressing the plight
of local governments that often wind up as the “deep pocket” in
personal injury lawsuits. In 2001, tort-associated costs represented
16 percent of Washington cities’ budgets.
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Fixing construction
liability that has increased the cost of housing. Tort costs add
about $10,000 - $15,000 to the price of every home.
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Helping health care
patients who are losing their doctors to other states and seeing
their health insurance premiums rocket through the roof. Since 1998,
the state medical association has seen a 31 percent increase in the
number of its physician members moving out of state.
“Clearly my Democrat
colleagues don’t think the problem is significant, judging from these
proposals, because they really don’t do anything,” Ericksen said. “I am
very disappointed we weren’t allowed to vote on Senator Dale Brandland’s
bill, which would truly reform our system. Senate Bill 5728 would lower
medical insurance premiums, keep doctors in Washington, weed out
frivolous lawsuits and encourage employers to locate and expand here. It
would fix our biggest failings while still compensating victims who have
suffered economic losses. None of the bills we voted on today accomplish
those very important goals.”
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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