The Importance of the Napkin Deal

By Albert Stoll | | Comments Off on The Importance of the Napkin Deal

One of the most important laws that govern personal injury practice was written on a napkin at Frank Fat’s in 1987. This significant historical event related to plaintiff’s personal injury law occurred on the evening of September 10, 1987. Present that night were lobbyists for the tobacco industry, doctors, manufacturers, insurance industry representatives and plaintiff lawyers. Negotiations were led by elected legislatures, Willie L. Brown, Jr and Bill Lockyer. The goal of the dinner was to create tort reform that would accommodate the interests of everyone and negotiate a truce in the ongoing tort reform war that was raging at the time.

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This deal was written on the back of a napkin thus becoming known as the “Napkin Deal.” It changed existing laws related to product liability, medical malpractice and punitive damages in California. The agreement became Senate Bill No. 241, which was quickly passed into law that same year in 1987. This “Napkin Deal” amended Business and Professions Code § 6146 which limits the amount of contingency attorney fees a plaintiff attorney may charge to prosecute a medical malpractice case.  

Any lawyer new to personal injury law must understand the laws that were impacted by the Napkin Deal.  For example does your state have attorney fee caps on medical malpractice cases? What is the standard of proof in your state to prevail on a punitive damages claim?  Finally, are the products in your state that have immunity from legal liability? To be a competent personal injury lawyer, you need to know the answers to these questions.

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You can read the Legislative Counsel discussion of the “Napkin Deal” here. The agreement gave the cigarette companies immunity in California starting in 1987, but that immunity came to an end ten years later on September 29, 1997. Here is the California Civil Code 1714.15 in its current state.

Posted in Blog, New Lawyers, Personal Injury Law, Resources

About Albert Stoll

In his 20 years of law practice, Al has handled more than 40 jury trials. This experience, combined with a commitment to ethics and integrity, has earned Al an excellent reputation throughout the San Francisco Bay Area legal community. He is the recipient of Martindale-Hubbell‘s “AV” peer rating, which signifies preeminent legal ability and ethical standards, and has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer every year since 2006. In 2009, Al was awarded the prestigious 2009 Civil Justice Award by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, given to attorneys who show integrity, grit, tenacity, ethics, and great advocacy skills, and who contribute to the betterment of consumers and/or injured victims and their families.