The medical-malpractice law, which Gov. Rick Scott signed June 5, took effect Monday. The Florida Justice Association battled with the Florida Medical Association and other groups throughout the spring session about the bill, renewing a medical-malpractice fight that has flared repeatedly over the years.
The bill (SB 1792) centered on the ex-parte communications issue and another change that tightened restrictions on expert witnesses in malpractice cases. Henley and Neal Roth, an attorney who filed one of the cases Monday, said they did not think the lawsuits would threaten the expert-witness restrictions — but indicated those restrictions could be challenged in future lawsuits.
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