What is tort reform?

Tort reform is a term used to describe efforts to place caps on monetary damages a plaintiff can receive in medical malpractice cases for noneconomic losses, according to a JRank article. Frequently, tort reform is a hotly contested political issue.

Tort reform addresses the maximum a plaintiff can recover for items like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium or punitive damages. Proponents claim that tort reform is needed to limit the high costs of insurance and medical care. Opponents argue that placing limits on one type of case is arbitrary and its application unfair, according to the JRank site.