SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Legislature has voted to increase how much money people can win in medical malpractice lawsuits.
Since 1975, the most that Californians could win for pain and suffering in a medical malpractice lawsuit was $250,000.
Starting Jan. 1, that limit will increase to $350,000 for people who were injured and $500,000 for the families of people who died.
The limits will increase gradually over the next decade until they reach $750,000 for injured patients and $1 million for the relatives of deceased patients.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he will sign the bill into law.
