The Vaguer Sanctions of Conscience: A Constitutional and Policy Analysis of Nebraska Medical Tort Reform 1976–1987

I. Introduction II. The Legislation ... A. Legislative Purposes, Goals, and Findings ... B. Persons Affected by the 1976 Legislation ... C. Absolute Limits on Damages ... D. Collateral Source Modification ... E. Statute of Limitations Modification ... F. Joint and Several Liability Modification ... G. Mandatory Pre-Trial Screening III. Constitutional Analysis ... A. Special Laws ... 1. Historical Background ... 2. Taylor, Prendergast, and Edmunds ... 3. Analysis ... B. Open Courts ... 1. Historical Background ... 2. Prendergast and Colton ... 3. Analysis ... C. Federal Equal Protection and Due Process Analysis ... 1. Traditional Equal Protection Tests ... 2. Traditional Due Process Tests ... 3. Duke Power and the White Dictum ... 4. Heightened Scrutiny and Medical Tort Reform ... 5. Nebraska Analysis IV. Policy Analysis V. Conclusion