The 12-physician Orthopedic Specialty Group, with offices in Fairfield, Stratford and Shelton, has put hundreds of Connecticut trial lawyers on notice that the cost for their attendance at depositions and trials is about to soar, due to rising malpractice insurance costs.
In a May 7 letter to lawyers on its mailing list, Dr. Robert A. Stanton explained his group has "updated" its fees to a startling $12,000 per day for court appearances. It now charges a similarly exorbitant $4,000 for the first two hours of a deposition, and $1,000 per hour thereafter. "All services will be required to be paid in advance," the letter states.