John Paganini Testifies Before Ohio Senate in Support of S.B. 292 as Supreme Court Decision Remains Pending
- May 20, 2026
- PetersenLegal
- Comments Off on John Paganini Testifies Before Ohio Senate in Support of S.B. 292 as Supreme Court Decision Remains Pending
Petersen & Petersen stands with their client at the Statehouse as Ohio considers landmark reforms to civil damage caps
John D. Paganini — the man at the center of one of Ohio’s most consequential civil justice cases — traveled to the Ohio Statehouse today to deliver proponent testimony before the Ohio Senate in support of Senate Bill 292, sponsored by Senator Louis Blessing of Cincinnati. Petersen & Petersen proudly joined him.
This was the bill’s second hearing. S.B. 292 would amend key provisions of the Ohio Revised Code to increase statutory caps on noneconomic, punitive, and exemplary damages in civil actions — and to establish a forward-looking annual adjustment mechanism tied to the Consumer Price Index, administered by the Ohio Department of Taxation.
A Decision Pending Before Ohio’s Highest Court
Oral arguments in Paganini v. Cataract Eye Center of Cleveland were heard on February 10, 2026. The Court is now deliberating on a question that strikes at the heart of Ohio’s civil justice system as it relates to John Paganini: whether the statutory cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases is constitutional as applied to a patient who has sustained catastrophic, permanent harm as determined by a jury in two separate legislative definitions: permanent and substantial physical deformity and loss of a bodily organ system.
A decision is pending. In the meantime, John Paganini has made clear he will not simply wait for the law to find him. He is bringing his experience directly to the people who can change it.
What S.B. 292 Would Do
Ohio’s current damage caps have not kept pace with inflation, quietly diminishing the value of recoverable damages for seriously injured Ohioans over time. S.B. 292 would address this by:
- Raising the base noneconomic damage cap from $250,000 to $415,000, with corresponding increases to per-plaintiff and per-occurrence maximums in both tort and medical malpractice actions
- Raising the punitive damage cap for small employers and individuals from $350,000 to $580,000
- Eliminating the non-economic damage cap entirely for plaintiffs who suffer permanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of a limb, or loss of a bodily organ system — replacing the prior upper limit with no limitation
- Requiring the Department of Taxation to calculate, certify, and publish annual CPI-based adjustments each February, ensuring caps reflect real-world economic conditions going forward
John’s Story
John Paganini’s path — from patient, to plaintiff, to advocate standing before the Ohio Senate — is one of extraordinary courage and unwavering resolve. To understand why this fight matters and what is at stake in his case, we invite you to read his story in full: petersenlegal.com/justice-for-
Petersen & Petersen remains steadfastly committed to fighting for John and for every Ohioan whose life has been permanently and profoundly changed by the preventable errors of a trusted medical provider. We will provide updates on both the legislative and judicial fronts as each develops.