[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 45 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H2994]]
                LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF ECONOMIC DAMAGES

  (Mr. NORWOOD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, the veil of obfuscation must be lowered in 
this House, if you are to ever hear the truth. I sat here last night in 
great pain and had to listen to lawyer after lawyer come down in this 
well and champion the virtues of the trial lawyers against the evil 
doctors of this Nation. They railed against us for wanting to limit 
noneconomic damages and from these evil malpracticing doctors of our 
Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am struck with how hypocritical that argument is when 
the other side voted against limiting contingency fees.
  When as much as two-thirds of the noneconomic damage awards go to pay 
the legal fees of trial attorneys, would you not think they would want 
to limit these costs as well, if they really wanted to make the patient 
whole? Or maybe they are not interested in the pain and suffering of 
the victims of the evil doctors. Maybe they are more interested in the 
pain and suffering of the trial lawyers and the millions of dollars 
that they give to Democratic campaigns.
  I am proud we took that step last night to limit noneconomic damages.

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