The Pennsylvania House of Representatives may soon consider legislation that would dramatically expand liability exposure to hospitals in civil lawsuits and increase litigation costs across the commonwealth by permitting attorneys to propose specific dollar amounts for damage awards prior to jury deliberations – a practice currently prohibited. 

House Bill 1913 would remove an established safeguard rooted in evidence and allow attorneys to seek inflated damage awards by encouraging jurors to focus on speculative pain and suffering and other non-economic damage awards rather than the facts of a case. As verdicts increase, so do insurance costs, legal expenses, and settlement pressures for hospitals, physician practices, employers, nonprofit organizations, and local governments.

At a time when the average medical malpractice verdict has more than tripled since the pandemic and 12 to 14 Pennsylvania hospitals are at risk of closure over the next five years as a result of unrelenting financial pressures, lawmakers should not advance legislation that would further increase costs and jeopardize access to care. 

Take Action: Please contact your state representative today and urge them to vote NO on House Bill 1913.