He ruled in June that Greenberg's allegation of excessively strict terms was valid, but rejected the former AIG CEO's demand for damages.
They said that they are not seeking the strict limits on damage awards that doctors and others have lobbied for here and in Washington, but a fairly narrow, technical fix that would affect only judgments paid out over many years.
While traditional disaster risk management meant the city was well prepared in terms of strict building codes, limiting damage and loss of life, what was not foreseen was the total breakdown of communications networks.
The Senate tonight rejected a proposal to set strict limits on damages, as President Bush has demanded.
If Congress expands the right to sue without imposing strict limits on damages, Mr. Bush says, insurance costs will rise, and people will lose coverage.
Sally J. Greenberg, a lawyer at Consumers Union, said: "There's no credible evidence that pure tort reform, with strict caps on damages awarded by a jury, brings down medical malpractice rates.
