Collateral source rule and med bills - plaintiff's, defense bar each win one: two districts of the appellate court construe Arthur v. Catour, holding that plaintiffs can recover only what Medicare and Medicaid paid the provider - not the larger, undiscounted amount billed - and allowing a physician's expert testimony that a medical bill was reasonable.
The groundbreaking ruling Arthur v Catour, 216 Ill 2d 72, 833 NE2d 847 (2005), stands for the principle that a plaintiff can recover the amount a medical provider charges the plaintiff for treatment--assuming that bill is reasonable--and isn't limited to the lesser amount the plaintiff's insurer negotiated with the...

Keeping it simple helps me keep my attorney-clients happy.
I've been successful in retaining my attorney-clients by following one of Vickie's basic rules: Keep things simple. Vickie's adage sometimes enters my mind when I start making things too complicated for me or my attorney-clients. This thought helps me to do just that--keep things simple, as I build solid...

Connecticut Trial Lawyers Donate Time To Help Returning Disabled Veterans.
HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With military conflicts now raging in Iraq and Afghanistan, an increasing number of veterans are returning home with serious and disabling injuries. Many of these veterans have lost limbs or suffered the devastating effects of traumatic brain injuries. Under current federal law, these...

One-town man closes book on small-town career.
Byline: PEOPLE By Karen McCowan The Register-Guard COTTAGE GROVE - A minor auto accident drove home the value of Gary Ackley's future profession nearly 50 years ago. The son of a Mount Shasta meat-cutter, Ackley had planned to work his way through Cal Poly. But...

Elidel Lawyer Wins Pre-Emption Ruling With the FDA.
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark case ruling, (Perry v. Novartis No. 05-530), Larry Roth, of law offices of Larry M Roth, PA, in cooperation with the law firm of Seeger Weiss, are the first lawyers to win an FDA pre-emption ruling sought by a drug...

Further Concerns About Elidel.
Elidel Approved Only for Short-Term, Intermittent Use WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- A case in Pennsylvania against Novartis, involves a toddler who developed cancer due to a failure-to-warn about the risks associated with the topical drug Elidel. In an important decision sure to have an impact on...

Nurse your entrepreneurial vision with this 5-part breakout formula.
Are you the rebel in your unit--mouthy and opinionated? Is your idea of security never falling victim to hospital downsizing or reengineering? Are you an independent risk-taker who can handle being responsible for your own paycheck? Do you have a vision of taking control of your nursing career plus...

Sifford Sworn in as President of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Lewis R. Sifford was sworn in as National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates at the association's national board of directors meeting Jan. 13. Sifford is president of the Dallas law firm of Sifford, Anderson and Company,...

LawyersandSettlements.com: Case Against Ortho Evra Patch Gaining Momentum.
Thanks to Whistleblower, More Users of the Ortho Evra Patch Will Become Aware of Its Risks NEW YORK, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by Online Legal Marketing Ltd.: Dr. Joel Lippman was employed by Johnson & Johnson for 15 years and...

A legal history of raw milk in the United States.
Editor's note: The Journal recognizes the importance of providing readers with practical and relevant legal information through Legal Briefs columns. In every other issue of the Journal, this information is presented by one or more of several insightful and dedicated columnists: Bill Marler, Denis Stearns, Drew Falkenstein, Patti Waller,...