Opinion ID: 1787098
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Classifications

Text: ś 81. The task of drawing lines, that is the task of creating classifications, is a legislative one in which perfection is neither possible nor necessary. [96] The court's goal is to determine whether the classification scheme rationally advances the legislative objective. In limiting noneconomic damages in medical malpractice actions, Wis. Stat. §§ 655.017 and 893.55(4)(d) together create a number of classifications and sub-classifications. [97] One main classification is relevant to the present case, and one sub-classification is implicated: ś 82. The main classification is the distinction between medical malpractice victims who suffer over $350,000 in noneconomic damages, and medical malpractice victims who suffer less than $350,000 in noneconomic damages. That is, the cap divides the universe of injured medical malpractice victims into a class of severely injured victims and less severely injured victims. Severely injured victims with more than $350,000 in noneconomic damages receive only part of their damages; less severely injured victims with $350,000 or less in noneconomic damages receive their full damages. In other words, the statutory cap creates a class of fully compensated victims and partially compensated victims. Thus, the cap's greatest impact falls on the most severely injured victims. [98] ś 83. A main sub-classification is created as part of the $350,000 cap on noneconomic damages. A single cap applies to all victims of a medical malpractice occurrence regardless of the number of victims/claimants. Because the total noneconomic damages recoverable for bodily injury or death may not exceed the $350,000 limit for each occurrence, the total award for a patient's claim for noneconomic damages (such as pain, suffering and disability) and the claims of the patient's spouse, minor children, or parents for loss of society and companionship cannot exceed $350,000. [99] Thus, classes of victims are created depending on whether the patient has a spouse, minor children, or a parent. An injured patient who is single may recover the entire $350,000, while a married injured patient shares the cap with his or her spouse; a non-married injured patient with children shares the $350,000 with the children; a married injured patient with children shares the cap with the spouse and children. ś 84. With these classifications in mind, we turn to the legislature's objectives for enacting a $350,000 cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice actions.