In the health care debate we keep on hearing about "tort reform" as a way to lower health care costs. Tort reform, for those who are most concerned about it, means limiting the amount of money a lawyer can make when he sues a company, hospital or doctor for negligence or misconduct. We should remember he or she is suing on behalf of a defendant who has been injured in some way by a company, hospital or doctor.
What about reforming the process of a client-company, hospital or doctor-who has to pay a law firm that represents them for every minute that firm "works" on their case? How much of that legal expense-called billable hours-is really legitimate? How much of it covers lunch breaks at "the club" while discussing a clients case?
It just might be that "billable hours" are causing more of an increase in health care costs than tort settlements. (See "findlaw.com" article on "billable hour reform" on 9/28/09)
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