Tort reform, round 2. TMA lobbyists examining likely medical liability issues for 1997.

Texas physicians won one of their biggest victories ever in the battle over tort reform in 1995. At the urging of the Texas Medical Association and other groups, lawmakers enacted legislation requiring plaintiffs in medical liability cases to post cost bonds and expert reports showing their cases have merit. Rules for expert witnesses were tightened. And, physicians and other defendants were given some relief from joint and several liability, which often leaves defendants who were only marginally at fault facing multimillion-dollar judgments because they have "deep pockets."