Mr. Quayle wants states to limit punitive awards to the actual financial harm the plaintiff suffered.

While efforts to pass a Federal law limiting such awards have been stymied, most states have moved to curb them.

The bill, similar to one the House passed in March, would limit awards for pain and suffering to $250,000.

State law has limits that may limit awards to below that amount.

In other kinds of cases, courts have limited such awards to direct nuclear-family members of those who were injured: parents, spouses, children or siblings.

But they also have accepted legislation limiting awards in product liability lawsuits and allowing more Government regulations.

The House would limit awards for pain and suffering, including such non-economic factors as disfigurement, to $250,000.

One approach would be to limit awards and create a fund to be shared by all families with similarly afflicted children.

The Hatch bill would also limit awards for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases to $250,000.

Still, Professor Burke doesn't believe that the solution is simply to limit lawsuits and monetary awards.