Beware Those Seeking to Limit Your Right to a Jury Trial

The Seventh Amendment of the United States Constitution specifically says that the right to a trial by jury “shall be preserved.” The Founding Fathers recognized that jury trials were a great equalizer. They protect us from the negligent or intentional acts of government, corporations, and others.

Unfortunately, there are those who seek to limit your right to a trial by jury. For years, politicians at both the federal and state levels of government have sought to deprive citizens of their right to a jury trial. Historically, one such person is President-Elect Trump’s choice for Secretary of Health & Human Services, Congressman Tom Price. For years, Congressman Price, who is also a doctor, has advocated to limit the amount juries could award injured patients in medical malpractice cases. He once said, “There is too much money on the table” in medical malpractice cases, and that it drives up the costs of healthcare. Time and time again, studies have shown that such limits to medical malpractice lawsuits do not impact healthcare costs.

At Warshauer Woodward Atkins, we fight every day for clients whose lives have been forever changed by the malpractice of healthcare professionals. The money we recover for our medical malpractice clients provide for their future healthcare needs and help them recover from the injuries they have uffered. Capping their damages or taking away their right to a jury trial would be unfair and unconstitutional.

We hope that Congressman Price will reconsider his past positions on this issue and encourage everyone to be active in the political process to preserve our 7th Amendment right to a trial by jury to resolve all civil cases, including medical malpractice cases.