Most people would be less than shocked to learn that $5.8 billion was spent defending claims and compensating victims of medical negligence in 2010; however, that $5.8 billion only accounts for a mere 0.3 percent of the overall health care costs in the United States.  According to a report recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the United States spent $2.6 trillion in 2010 for its health care.  Additionally, while overall costs increased by 3.9 percent from 2009, medical negligence costs decreased from $6.6 billion.