Carson senator and predecessor named to commissions

Carson City Sen. Mark Amodei and his predecessor have been named to commissions by the Legislative Commission.

Amodei, the Republican incumbent, was named to a legislative subcommittee studying the medical malpractice crisis. He replaces Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, who is not seeking another term in the Legislature.

The subcommittee is studying ways of fixing the medical malpractice crisis precipitated when St. Paul Cos., the largest insurer of doctors in Nevada, pulled out of the market. Doctors, particularly in Southern Nevada, have expressed concern they will have to shut their doors because insurance costs are rising above $100,000 a year for some specialties.

They have called for tort reform similar to that enacted in California which would limit the size of "pain and suffering" judgments in malpractice suits but the Trial Lawyer's Association opposes the move.

The subcommittee is charged with sorting out the best options for lawmakers to consider during the 2003 Legislature.

Ernie Adler, the Democrat who held the Capital District Senate seat before Amodei, was named to the state Ethics Commission. He replaces Raymond, "Skip" Avansino, who was recently appointed to the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Adler, 51, is a Carson City attorney who served two terms in each the Assembly and Senate. By law, the position he was named to requires he be both a former public official and a Democrat.