Graduation Year
2015
Date of Submission
12-2014
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Economics
Reader 1
Eric Helland
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2014 Andrew W. Dodds
Abstract
In this paper, I use data from the Florida Closed Claims Database to investigate how Florida’s 2003 non-economic damage cap legislation impacted elderly malpractice claimants. More specifically, I measure whether or not non-economic damage caps adversely impact claimants in counties with high elderly densities. To measure the effect of Florida’s non-economic damage caps, I look at multiple metrics that measure both elderly claimants’ monetary gains and their access to the justice system after the reform is passed. I find mildly conclusive evidence that counties with higher elderly density, and assumedly more elderly claimants, are more likely to settle cases before reaching a jury trial and are less likely to file a medical malpractice claim. Conversely, though, I find limited evidence supporting the idea that elderly claimants receive less monetary damage payments or drop cases more. Overall, then, my findings are not consistent with the view that non-economic damage caps significantly discriminate against elderly claimants.
Recommended Citation
Dodds, Andrew W., "Examining The Impact of Florida's Non-Economic Damage Cap on Elderly Populations" (2015). CMC Senior Theses. 1053.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1053
