May 20, 2008
Protecting injured workers (and trial lawyers)
Trial lawyers, who got help from fellow trial lawyer Speaker Sheldon Silver last year, aim to kill a bill that could save state and local governments millions of dollars a year.
In a column in today's Daily News, Bill Hammond writes about a bill
that could save New York City alone as much $164 million a year by barring injured public sector workers from double-dipping.
Right now, thanks to a quirk in state law, injured government employees can sue to recover lost wages and medical expenses even when those costs are fully covered by disability and health insurance.
This ridiculous situation forces taxpayers to shell out twice - once in the form of insurance premiums, and again in payouts to workers who successfully play the lawsuit lottery.
The bill is on the Assembly Judiciary Committee agenda. Two years ago, when it looked like the committee would report it to the floor,But on the very morning of the committee meeting - in a brazen display of raw muscle - Silver summarily replaced three members. The bill died by a vote of 11 to 10.
This year, opponents are using a different tactic to derail the bill. The judiciary chairs of both houses - who also happen to be trial lawyers - are pushing to attach an amendment that would gum up the works. It would bar health insurance companies from seeking reimbursement from customers who win personal injury settlements.
« Previous |
Main
| Next »
|
