Oklahoma lawmakers shift focus to drafting tort reform bill

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma legislators are about to write proposed changes to the state's civil justice system.<br/><br/>They just finished a series of public meetings Thursday. They heard testimony

Friday, May 7th 2004, 5:36 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma legislators are about to write proposed changes to the state's civil justice system.

They just finished a series of public meetings Thursday. They heard testimony on frivolous lawsuits and proposed limits on pain and suffering damages.

Now they're thinking about capping non-economic damages at $300,000 and restricting punitive damages.

Legislators are also considering adding liability protection for volunteer doctors and firefighters, and protecting defendants who are liable for less than half of the harm done.

A joint House and Senate committee will write the bill.

The issue of frivolous lawsuits has put doctors and insurance companies at odds with trial lawyers.