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.

State audit finds delay in nursing home fines
The New York State Health Department is the state agency responsible for imposing fines on nursing homes when safety violations occur. In 2007, the average time to issue a fine was six months. Currently, it takes the State Health Department an average of four years to levy a