SJ0003 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0003 LRB094 05095 WGH 35131 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The increasing cost of medical liability insurance results in increased financial burdens upon physicians and hospitals; and

WHEREAS, Various groups have cited data to support the contention that frivolous medical malpractice suits and excessive medical malpractice judgments are the cause of this crisis; and

WHEREAS, Other groups have cited other data in support of their claims that medical malpractice suits and judgments are not the cause of the crisis but that the medical liability insurance industry is actually at the root of the crisis; and

WHEREAS, The collection of information in court records can play an important role in helping the citizens of this State determine the degree to which the legal system and the cost of medical liability insurance are related; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we request the Supreme Court to modify its administrative orders to provide for specific medical malpractice case recordkeeping by circuit court clerks and reporting of this information to the public and the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we request the Supreme Court to order a new case designation of "MM" to be used in medical malpractice cases filed in the circuit court; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.