Opinion ID: 1100973
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Part II. Tort Reform

Text: Appellants Smith and the Academy of Trial Lawyers raise three basic challenges to the constitutionality of the tort reform provisions of the act. First, appellants contend that section 59, limiting noneconomic damages to $450,000 unconstitutionally denies claimants access to the courts, violates article I, section 21, of the Florida Constitution and the equal protection clauses of the Florida and United States Constitutions. Second, on the same grounds, appellants claim that section 60, modifying joint and several liability, is unconstitutional. Third, they argue that the seven sections of the act relating to other tort reform revisions [sections 51-54 and 56-58] are unconstitutional because they violate the separation of powers requirement of article II, section 3, of the Florida Constitution.