MPM stands up to tort reform challenge
What is an amicus brief and how does it apply to the Supreme Court of Missouri CASE NO SC90107?
“Amicus" is short for "amicus curiae", which is Latin usually translated as "friend of the court." An amicus curiae brief is one filed by someone who isn't a party to the case, but who has information or a point of view that may be helpful to the court and that might not otherwise be briefed by the actual parties. Amicus briefs are usually filed in cases that are perceived to have substantial public importance. Filing them requires either the permission of the actual parties to the case, or the permission of the court. The Klotz appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court challenges, as you know, the constitutionality of the 2005 Missouri tort reform legislation, and thus has considerable significance in that its result may extend well beyond just the actual parties to the case. Thus it has attracted quite a few amicus briefs attempting to show the court how a ruling that strikes down part of the 2005 legislation would help or harm various aspects of health care delivery in the State. Some of the organizations filing in support of the plaintiff include the AARP, the AFL-CIO and the NAACP. Other amici filing, like MPM, in support of the defendants include the Missouri Hospital Association, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and Washington University.
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