On Monday, the California Court of Appeals in San Diego ruled unanimously that defendants must take full responsibility for medical costs a plaintiff incurred as a result of a defendants wrongdoing. The case, Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions, Inc., is a great victory for consumers. Previous holdings stated that if a plaintiff was injured in an accident caused by a defendant, and the plaintiff had their own private health insurance which they paid for, the amount that a defendant is found to be responsible for can be reduced by the amount already paid by the plaintiff’s own health insurance. Thus, leaving the plaintiff with nothing.
