A recent AAJ article reports that a petition is pending requesting that the Supreme Court allow active duty military personnel to sue the government. Petty Officer Nathan Hafterson died on March 26, 2006, at Naval Hospital Jacksonville after being admitted for trouble breathing. His attorneys state that it would put military members on the same footing as civilians under the Federal Tort Claims Act. This malpractice action was denied by the lower courts because a federal law (known as the Feres doctrine) prohibits active military members from suing the US government.

California local prosecutors allowed to sue health insurers coverage denials
The AAJ yesterday cited a Los Angeles Times report that a decision last month by the California Court of Appeal in Los Angeles opened the door for increased scrutiny of health insurers’ practice of rescinding the policies of sick patients. According to the Times the court ruled “that