In the continuing battle over tort reform in Tennessee, Governor Haslam now says there is no room for negotiation in his proposed legislation that will limit damages on non-economic and punitive damages in civil suits (among other items). According to an article in The Tennessean, the administration proposed changes to the bill late last week that would create a special category for “catastrophic loss,” which would raise the cap for non-economic damages to $1.25 million in cases involving serious spinal cord injuries, severe burns or the death of a parent of minor children.

On the other side, representing the Tennessee Association for Justice, is Senator Fred Thompson, who says the bill is a good starting point but that more changes will need to be made to reach an agreement.