The Nation - News from June 30, 1985

The New York state Legislature approved a bill that would reduce doctors’ malpractice insurance costs and delay any future rate increases until December. But despite the urging by the medical society in the state, there will be no caps on awards to victims of malpractice. The measure would institute tougher standards to weed out incompetent doctors and end the standard one-third contingency fee lawyers get for handling malpractice cases. The contingency fee would be based on a sliding scale that could reduce fees lawyers receive in large awards. The legislation was expected to be signed into law by Gov. Mario M. Cuomo.