Medical Insurance Compensation Reform Act (MICRA)
A California tort reform act, passed in 1975, that may be replicated in other
states. It has shown success in limiting the increases of medical malpractice
costs. Several of MICRA's important features include: (a) non-economic damages
that are capped for medical negligence at $250,000; (b) economic damages that
are not capped; (c) damage limitations that are provided through the collateral
source rule; (d) a sliding scale for lawyers' contingency fees; (e) a 90-day
advance notice for filing a claim; and (f) a statute of limitations that requires
notification within one year from discovery; and within three years of the date
of injury.
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CICR 12/2003