After the conference the AMA's president, Nancy Nielsen, and her soon-to-be successor, James Rohack, gushed with enthusiasm, in particular because of the mention of malpractice reform (trial lawyers represent an important constituency for Democrats, and oppose malpractice changes).

ECONOMIST: Health-care reform: A spoonful of sugar | The

In truth, tort reform would only hurt trial lawyers and would provide an immediate boost to the economy.

FORBES: America's Ongoing Tort Litigation Nightmare

The trial in Manhattan is seeking to reform the practice of stop, question and frisk, a contentious law enforcement tactic, and lawyers for the plaintiffs are seeking a court-appointment monitor to oversee the changes.

WSJ: NYC officer testifies on stop challenged in suit

Trial lawyers and their Democratic allies call for health reform along European lines to reduce costs, making torts less expensive.

ECONOMIST: Tort reform

Mr Cameron restated the case in favour of benefit reform as the UK government prepares to launch the first trial of the universal credit - a new system for making welfare payments - on Monday.

BBC: David Cameron urges Welsh Tories to fight 'battle of ideas'

Court reform followed, assigning cases to individual judges who were responsible for moving cases to trial within one and at most two years.

FORBES: Other Cases Also Affected