Damage awards against physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers have been coming in bigger and bigger, with juries awarding more than $20 million in a string of cases that should send chills down the spines of defendants and counsel.
What are the factors behind this trend? Besides the severe (or even alarming) nature of the harm alleged, what is fueling these mega verdicts?
What can defense attorneys do, knowing they are facing a well-organized, well-funded plaintiffs bar?
For that matter, what can defense attorneys learn from their opponents?
What strategies can defense employ early in the life of a case?