Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "Voters resist efforts to change malpractice system"

A record-setting spending blitz couldn't persuade voters to overhaul Washington's medical malpractice system, and trial lawyers and doctors looked to the Legislature for another round in their bitter battle. Voters rejected the state medical association's attempt to limit jury awards and lawyer's fees in malpractice cases Tuesday. A rival measure supported by trial lawyers that focused on problem doctors fared no better.

The campaigns raised about $15 million and set a state record for initiative spending. The old mark was about $7 million spent in 1997 by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen and his opponents on his successful bid for a new NFL stadium in Seattle.

Washington State Medical Association chief executive Tom Curry said it was money well spent despite the loss of the measure. "The physicians drove their message home," Curry said. "They ran a great campaign and the margin of victory for the other side was less than what it might have been otherwise."