Lawrence J. McQuillan

Business & Economics

Rep. Issa: Was Obama ‘Just Lying to Congress’ on Tort Reform Pledge?

Health care spending consumes 17 percent of the economy, or about $2.5 trillion, and is projected to reach $4.7 trillion by 2019. The committee report contends that putting some restraints on medical malpractice lawsuits will reign in medical costs. “It is estimated that these additional liability-based medical care costs adds ...
Business & Economics

Tort system deficiencies raise health costs for all

Wayne Willoughby argued that tort reform amounts to “stripping away the rights of injured patients” (“‘Tort reform’ won’t fix health care,” Commentary, Dec. 18). But America’s current tort system is hardly adept at protecting patients’ interests. Very little of each tort-cost dollar goes to compensate the injured. Not only do ...
Business & Economics

To Revive New York’s Economy, Attack Lawsuit Abuse

New York’s unemployment rate is hovering near 9% – the highest in more than a decade. Meanwhile, almost 12% of Empire State homeowners are late on their mortgages or in foreclosure. From 1997 through 2007, the number of jobs in New York increased only 8%, ranking the state 36th. During ...
Business & Economics

An Empire Disaster: Why New York’s Tort System is Broken and How to Fix It

(ALBANY) A new study of New York’s legal system conducted by Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a nationally known research firm, has concluded that New York’s legal system is the third worst in the country and is costing taxpayers millions of dollars through higher taxes and increased costs for goods, insurance ...
Business & Economics

CBO Underestimates Benefits of Malpractice Reform

Getting sued is now part of the job description for physicians. Each year, up to 25 percent of them face lawsuits. Doctors are found innocent in 90 percent of cases, but they lose even then — average defense costs per claim approach $100,000. Fear of lawsuits causes most doctors to ...
Business & Economics

Ending drugmakers’ exemption will cost jobs

During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market, and the worst personal income growth of any state. Now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The biopharmaceutical industry currently employs more than 100,000 Michiganders and ...
Commentary

The Facts about Medical Malpractice Liability Costs

There is a lot of talk in Washington about cutting wasteful health care spending and, more specifically, cutting costs associated with medical malpractice liability. The dollar figures used by various groups and lawmakers often diverge widely. This paper presents what we know, and don’t know, about medical malpractice liability costs.
Business & Economics

Anna Nicole Smith Was No Jimmy Stewart

In Frank Capra’s classic 1946 movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, the straight-arrow president of a struggling small-town building and loan company played by Jimmy Stewart realizes his bumbling Uncle Billy has lost $8,000 of the company’s cash on Christmas Eve afternoon, just as a bank examiner is arriving for an ...
Business & Economics

Michigan can’t afford ‘FDA defense’ repeal

During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...
Business & Economics

Letter: House bill will penalize drug makers

During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market, and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...
Business & Economics

Rep. Issa: Was Obama ‘Just Lying to Congress’ on Tort Reform Pledge?

Health care spending consumes 17 percent of the economy, or about $2.5 trillion, and is projected to reach $4.7 trillion by 2019. The committee report contends that putting some restraints on medical malpractice lawsuits will reign in medical costs. “It is estimated that these additional liability-based medical care costs adds ...
Business & Economics

Tort system deficiencies raise health costs for all

Wayne Willoughby argued that tort reform amounts to “stripping away the rights of injured patients” (“‘Tort reform’ won’t fix health care,” Commentary, Dec. 18). But America’s current tort system is hardly adept at protecting patients’ interests. Very little of each tort-cost dollar goes to compensate the injured. Not only do ...
Business & Economics

To Revive New York’s Economy, Attack Lawsuit Abuse

New York’s unemployment rate is hovering near 9% – the highest in more than a decade. Meanwhile, almost 12% of Empire State homeowners are late on their mortgages or in foreclosure. From 1997 through 2007, the number of jobs in New York increased only 8%, ranking the state 36th. During ...
Business & Economics

An Empire Disaster: Why New York’s Tort System is Broken and How to Fix It

(ALBANY) A new study of New York’s legal system conducted by Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a nationally known research firm, has concluded that New York’s legal system is the third worst in the country and is costing taxpayers millions of dollars through higher taxes and increased costs for goods, insurance ...
Business & Economics

CBO Underestimates Benefits of Malpractice Reform

Getting sued is now part of the job description for physicians. Each year, up to 25 percent of them face lawsuits. Doctors are found innocent in 90 percent of cases, but they lose even then — average defense costs per claim approach $100,000. Fear of lawsuits causes most doctors to ...
Business & Economics

Ending drugmakers’ exemption will cost jobs

During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market, and the worst personal income growth of any state. Now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The biopharmaceutical industry currently employs more than 100,000 Michiganders and ...
Commentary

The Facts about Medical Malpractice Liability Costs

There is a lot of talk in Washington about cutting wasteful health care spending and, more specifically, cutting costs associated with medical malpractice liability. The dollar figures used by various groups and lawmakers often diverge widely. This paper presents what we know, and don’t know, about medical malpractice liability costs.
Business & Economics

Anna Nicole Smith Was No Jimmy Stewart

In Frank Capra’s classic 1946 movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, the straight-arrow president of a struggling small-town building and loan company played by Jimmy Stewart realizes his bumbling Uncle Billy has lost $8,000 of the company’s cash on Christmas Eve afternoon, just as a bank examiner is arriving for an ...
Business & Economics

Michigan can’t afford ‘FDA defense’ repeal

During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...
Business & Economics

Letter: House bill will penalize drug makers

During the past 10 years, Michigan has had a declining population, a shrinking job market, and the worst personal income growth of any state. Its unemployment rate is an incredible 15.4 percent, but now Michigan stands to lose even more jobs in one of the state’s remaining robust sectors. The ...
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