Reid v. Williams

OPINION

EASTAUGH, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Elliott Reid sued Dr. David Williams for medical malpractice and prevailed at trial. Applying AS 09.55.548(b), the superior court subtracted Reid’s medical expenses paid by Reid’s insurer from the jury’s medical expenses award. Concluding that it was a reasonable legislative response to a perceived medical malpractice insurance crisis, we reject Reid’s argument that the statute violates his substantive due process rights. Concluding that the classification between doctors and other tort defendants bears a fair and substantial relation to attainment of a…