# Tort Reform Issue to Appear on Oregon Ballot 

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Oregon voters will have the chance to discourage frivolous lawsuits and limit runaway jury awards next month by approving Ballot Measure 81, a proposed constitutional amendment on the May 16 ballot that would allow the legislature to limit non-economic damages in personal injury lawsuits.

"Injured parties should be fully compensated for their medical expenses; no one disputes that. Unfortunately, there are too many instances of abuse when it comes to pain-and-suffering awards," said Melvin N. Sorensen, assistant vice president and Northwest regional manager for the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII).

"The legislature curbed non-economic damages in 1987, and among the results, Oregon medical malpractice insurance rates today are 50 percent lower. If we turn back the clock and restore unlimited punitive damages, the real losers will be Oregon taxpayers and insurance policyholders."