We applaud the announcement by Governor Ronnie Musgrove to calla special session to address lawsuit reform. It is about time thelegislature and the governor get serious about the issue. Theproblem, however, is that by limiting the session to just themedical community the entire problem will not be addressed.

There is no doubt we are in a medical crisis in this state.Locally we are beginning to feel the effects as area doctors andhospitals are having trouble finding malpractice coverage.

What we do not understand is why the governor will not let thelegislature address an equally serious crisis in the businesscommunity. Like doctors, business and industry is also victim tolawsuit abuse.

The point was driven home this past week by a Mississippi nativewho is the head of one of Mississippi’s most successful furnituremanufacturing companies. Speaking to members of the MississippiEconomic Council, Mickey Holliman said his company needs to expandbut would not be doing so here in Mississippi because of the legalenvironment!

While Mississippians are being affected directly by the medicalcrisis, they are being affected indirectly by the business crisisthrough price increases and job loss. The loss of medical care isseen immediately, the loss of jobs will be much more subtle.

We hope the governor will expand the session to include allareas of lawsuit abuse. Doing so well help restart Mississippi’seconomic engine.