Palmer Events Center
$250,000 Can Be Costly
RECEIVED Tue., Sept. 9, 2003
Dear Texas voters,
Proposition 12 opens the door for not only medical malpractice lawsuits but any other kind of lawsuit to have a cap of $250,000 on "noneconomic" damages.
Years ago I became severely ill. Because my total cap for damages was $250,000, high-powered attorneys wouldn’t take my case. Attorneys don’t put mortgages on their homes to represent us as in the movie, A Civil Action. My case was once estimated to cost $100,000 to $300,000 to get it ready for trial, so obviously good attorneys didn’t deliberately choose to lose money on my behalf. I don’t blame them. I also don’t have any problems with doctors or nurses. Some have been extremely kind and have helped to save my life.
The price of living (or dying) with $250,000 as the cap on "noneconomic" damages can be devastating. I lost the incredibly good health that I took for granted 13 years ago. I almost died. I lost the chance to finish my doctorate because I became too ill. I lost my primary source of income. I lost my chance to tell the truth in a court of law. I lost my chance to have a regular social life, buy a new car more than once every 13 years, and be self-sufficient financially and physically at times. If I can lose so much in a world of $250,000 caps on damages, then so can you.
On Saturday, please vote no to Proposition 12. The chance for Texans to have a fair day in the courtroom where justice is determined by judges and/or a jury, not by the state Legislature, is at stake. If catastrophic harm can happen to me, it can happen to you or your loved ones.
Proposition 12 opens the door for not only medical malpractice lawsuits but any other kind of lawsuit to have a cap of $250,000 on "noneconomic" damages.
Years ago I became severely ill. Because my total cap for damages was $250,000, high-powered attorneys wouldn’t take my case. Attorneys don’t put mortgages on their homes to represent us as in the movie, A Civil Action. My case was once estimated to cost $100,000 to $300,000 to get it ready for trial, so obviously good attorneys didn’t deliberately choose to lose money on my behalf. I don’t blame them. I also don’t have any problems with doctors or nurses. Some have been extremely kind and have helped to save my life.
The price of living (or dying) with $250,000 as the cap on "noneconomic" damages can be devastating. I lost the incredibly good health that I took for granted 13 years ago. I almost died. I lost the chance to finish my doctorate because I became too ill. I lost my primary source of income. I lost my chance to tell the truth in a court of law. I lost my chance to have a regular social life, buy a new car more than once every 13 years, and be self-sufficient financially and physically at times. If I can lose so much in a world of $250,000 caps on damages, then so can you.
On Saturday, please vote no to Proposition 12. The chance for Texans to have a fair day in the courtroom where justice is determined by judges and/or a jury, not by the state Legislature, is at stake. If catastrophic harm can happen to me, it can happen to you or your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Corinne Irwin
Corinne Irwin