Saw a few blogs grousing about SB 1296 in Illinois:

Among other things, the proposed law would allow the plaintiffs’ lawyers (the personal injury lawyers) to manipulate which defendants in a personal injury case actually go to trial…

Source: ILLINOIZE: Diverse Coalition Opposes Trial Lawyer 'Deep Pockets' Bill

Damage caps do the same thing, only in reverse.  They allow defendants to determine which cases go to trial.  Those in which the defendant really has something to hide, such as the deaths of dozens of customers due to defective tires or medicines, would never go to trial as the defendant can force the plaintiff to settle for the cap.

One way you can tell this bill isn't all bad is to look at who opposes it.  A partial list includes:

• Illinois Business Roundtable
• Illinois Chamber of Commerce
• Illinois Petroleum Council
• Illinois Insurance Association
• Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
• Illinois Manufacturers Association

There's a list of anti-consumer groups if there ever was one, eh?