February 2018
2018 Michigan Non-Economic Damages Caps
Since 1993, Michigan has placed a limitation on the total amount of damages for non-economic loss that are recoverable in a medical malpractice action. The current limitation is enacted by statute in MCL § 600.1483. “Non-economic loss” is defined under the statute to mean damages or loss due to pain,
November 2017
FBMJ Attorneys Present at Wound Care Conference
On November 2, 2017, FBMJ attorneys Clyde Metzger and Mitchell Jackson presented at Saint Joseph Mercy Health’s Wound Care Conference, which is designed to educate healthcare providers regarding clinical interventions to prevent skin breakdown and legal concerns related to hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
Their presentation titled, “Steering Clear of Pains in the
FBMJ pharmacist attorney, Kim Sveska, presented at the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) / Michigan Society of Pharmacy Technicians’ Five-Live Continuing Education Event on September 16, 2017 in Flint, MI. Sveska presented a pharmacy law update which included the ever-increasing number of pharmacy audits that the typical community pharmacy faces, the
On July 21, 2017 attorneys Clyde Metzger and Carole Empey obtained a no cause verdict on behalf of their clients, an obstetrician gynecologist, a professional services organization of physicians and a hospital. The jury found no malpractice and that the Defendants complied with the standard of care during a DaVinci
June 2017
Covenant Broken?
The recourse for healthcare providers in recouping costs from No-Fault insurers was cast into serious doubt in the wake of the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling in Covenant Medical Center v State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. (Supreme Court Case No. 152758). In its May 25, 2017 Opinion, the high court
On May 25, 2017, Governor Rick Snyder approved and signed the Michigan Chief Medical Executive’s Standing Order (akin to a state-wide prescription) pre-authorizing the distribution of naloxone by pharmacists. Naloxone hydrochloride (naloxone) is a fast-acting medication intended to reverse the effects of an opioid-related drug overdose. Prior to this Standing
In what has been identified as a new tool in the fight against opioid abuse and controlled substance diversion, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) announced Tuesday, April 11, 2017, that improvements to the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS), Michigan’s electronic monitoring system that tracks Schedule 2-5 controlled
A recent delay will likely slow the announcement of specific rules and regulations that will govern the application process for a license under the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (the Act). Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed a package of three bills that created regulatory framework for the distribution of medical
March 2017
2017 Non-Economic Damages Caps
The State of Michigan Department of Treasury has announced the 2017 Non-Economic Damages Caps for 2017 for medical malpractice claims. With respect to obtaining compensation for the injured plaintiff, Michigan – by statute – places a cap on the amount of noneconomic loss that a plaintiff may be awarded in