Opinion ID: 1114170
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jury Instructions and Cabrini's Liability

Text: La. R.S. 40:1299.44(C)(5) provides in pertinent part: In approving a settlement or determining the amount, if any, to be paid from the patient's compensation fund, the court shall consider the liability of the health care provider as admitted and established where the insurer has paid its policy limits of one hundred thousand dollars, or where the self-insured health care provider has paid one hundred thousand dollars. Plaintiffs argue that since Cabrini paid $100,000, its liability was established. As a result, they argue the trial judge incorrectly instructed the jury in such a way as to lead it to believe it could decide liability. The relevant portion of the jury charges are as follows: Liability admitted. Liability is stipulated or admitted in this case and the jury will not have to make a finding on legal liability.