Cunningham Group Responds to the Tillinghast Towers-Perrin Annual Study of the Cost of America's Tort System

Cunningham Group president and CEO James H. Cunningham Jr. released a statement in response to the Dec. 14 release of the Tillinghast Towers-Perrin annual study of the cost of America's tort system, which shows an overall 5.5 percent decline in 2006 to $247 billion.

(PRWEB) December 27, 2007 -- Cunningham Group president and CEO James H. Cunningham Jr. released the following statement in response to the Dec. 14 release of the Tillinghast Towers-Perrin annual study of the cost of America's tort system, which shows an overall 5.5 percent decline in 2006 to $247 billion: "It is encouraging to see a downward trend in the costs of the U.S. court system. In relation to the medical liability tort environment, this positive trend is manifesting itself in leveling and, in some cases, declining medical malpractice insurance premiums."

"While the Tillinghast Towers-Perrin study is encouraging news, this is not the time for the medical industry to rest on these laurels. Instead, now is as crucial as any time for physicians to band together in combined, coordinated support of in-practice and proposed tort reforms. A united voice is needed to let legislators know that these reforms are working, making better health care available to a wider segment of the American people."

"Recently, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Diane Larsen ruled that Illinois' medical litigation reforms were unconstitutional (LeBron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, No. 06-L-12109). Prior to the Illinois General Assembly enacting those reforms in 2005, the state faced widespread health care shortages due to an exodus of physicians to states with a more favorable tort environment and lower malpractice premiums. Judge Larsen's ruling is being appealed to the state's Supreme Court, and now is the time for Illinois' medical community to be ever vigilant in support of litigation reform."

About Cunningham Group:
The leading independent agency specializing in the delivery of innovative medical malpractice insurance and risk management solutions for physician practices, Cunningham Group boasts 60 years of medical liability experience.

In an ever-changing health care delivery environment, Cunningham Group focuses on assisting physicians with medical malpractice insurance availability, reducing the incidence of malpractice claims, resolving affordability issues as well as improving the overall safety and quality of the health care they provide.

For more info, visit www.cg-ins.com

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