To: The Utah State House
Utah 'Non-Economic' Pain and Suffering Cap
Take the cap off Utah's "Non-Economic" Pain and Suffering
Why is this important?
Sign using the form on the left if you think Utah citizens should be able to vote on non-economic pain and suffering settlement limits instead of leaving the decision up to wealthy lobbyists, insurance agencies, and doctors!
What if Utah law said your income could only be $20,000 per year for the rest of your working life? You’d be stuck bringing in only a third of what most other Utah households earn, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. You’d also be unable to buy a house, afford to live in a decent housing complex, or even qualify for many of the necessary steps to achieving the American dream.
Here’s the scary truth: all of these things could happen to almost anyone at any time, and it’s due to a law you probably don’t know exists.
My dad’s story is tragic proof of this. One year ago, my dad went in for a routine medical procedure. While current legal proceedings prevent me from going into detail, what I can say is that my dad has lost 90% of his feeling in his left leg and is no longer able to work.
Unfortunately, a law went into effect without ever being on a ballot that says the limit for a malpractice settlement in the state of Utah is $450,000 for pain and suffering. That sounds like a lot, but think about it: my dad has 20 years of work left. If he could go to work and earn just $50,000 per year (still below the average), he’d make almost $1 million before he retired. Instead, even though my dad can no longer go fishing with his sons, go to work, take a jog, or even walk normally ever again, the state of Utah’s lobbyists decided – without voter knowledge or consent – all of pain was only worth less than $20,000 per year.
And it’s all due to a law that never even went public.
This $450,000 limit doesn’t just affect the middle-aged, either. If a child – even a baby – is a victim of malpractice, the family can still only be awarded $450,000 in damages. If that baby lives to be 50, that’s only $9,000 per year! I personally believe it’s not enough, and this cap should be changed based on the severity of each case and life expectancy of the victim.
However, I’m not asking for this petition to change the law; I’m simply asking for the right as a citizen to vote on whether this law represents what I want as a tax-paying member of society. Had it been brought to the public prior to being passed the outcome of this law might have been different. Since this could affect any of us, don’t we deserve to have at least a vote?
Please sign this petition so Utah voters can vote on Utah’s non-economic “pain and suffering” cap during our next election.
What if Utah law said your income could only be $20,000 per year for the rest of your working life? You’d be stuck bringing in only a third of what most other Utah households earn, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. You’d also be unable to buy a house, afford to live in a decent housing complex, or even qualify for many of the necessary steps to achieving the American dream.
Here’s the scary truth: all of these things could happen to almost anyone at any time, and it’s due to a law you probably don’t know exists.
My dad’s story is tragic proof of this. One year ago, my dad went in for a routine medical procedure. While current legal proceedings prevent me from going into detail, what I can say is that my dad has lost 90% of his feeling in his left leg and is no longer able to work.
Unfortunately, a law went into effect without ever being on a ballot that says the limit for a malpractice settlement in the state of Utah is $450,000 for pain and suffering. That sounds like a lot, but think about it: my dad has 20 years of work left. If he could go to work and earn just $50,000 per year (still below the average), he’d make almost $1 million before he retired. Instead, even though my dad can no longer go fishing with his sons, go to work, take a jog, or even walk normally ever again, the state of Utah’s lobbyists decided – without voter knowledge or consent – all of pain was only worth less than $20,000 per year.
And it’s all due to a law that never even went public.
This $450,000 limit doesn’t just affect the middle-aged, either. If a child – even a baby – is a victim of malpractice, the family can still only be awarded $450,000 in damages. If that baby lives to be 50, that’s only $9,000 per year! I personally believe it’s not enough, and this cap should be changed based on the severity of each case and life expectancy of the victim.
However, I’m not asking for this petition to change the law; I’m simply asking for the right as a citizen to vote on whether this law represents what I want as a tax-paying member of society. Had it been brought to the public prior to being passed the outcome of this law might have been different. Since this could affect any of us, don’t we deserve to have at least a vote?
Please sign this petition so Utah voters can vote on Utah’s non-economic “pain and suffering” cap during our next election.