Bill > HB548

This bill amends Mississippi law to define and establish limits on noneconomic damages for catastrophic injuries or illnesses. The bill introduces a comprehensive definition of "catastrophic injury or illness," which includes severe conditions such as spinal cord injuries involving paralysis, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, extensive burns, total blindness, internal organ damage, complex bone fractures, and paralysis. For civil actions filed on or after January 1, 2025, involving catastrophic injury, illness, or death, the bill caps noneconomic damages at $3 million when a defendant is found liable. The bill also clarifies that noneconomic damages include subjective losses like pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life, but do not include punitive damages. The legislation maintains existing caps on noneconomic damages for medical malpractice ($500,000) and other civil actions ($1 million) while introducing this new, higher limit specifically for catastrophic injury cases. The bill aims to provide a clear framework for understanding and calculating noneconomic damages in serious injury lawsuits, with the judge required to reduce any awards that exceed the specified limits.