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Limits on damages in medical malpractice case

My mother is involved in a medical malpractice case agains a doctor and a hospital. I'm not even sure what her damages are, but does MA law limit the amount of money she could win?

Editor's Response

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 231, Section 60H requires judges to instruct juries not award more than $500,000 for general damages (things like pain and suffering, loss of companionship, etc.), UNLESS the jury finds that the plaintiff has suffered "a substantial or permanent loss or impairment of a bodily function or substantial disfigurement, or other special circumstances in the case which warrant a finding that imposition of such a limitation would deprive the plaintiff of just compensation for the injuries sustained." 
 
In practice, plaintiff's attorneys are frequently able to convince juries that such a loss or impairment was suffered by the plaintiff.  Please tell your friends about The Forum.


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