The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 199 on recovery of litigation expenses, sponsored by Rep. Steuerwald. The bill provides that attorney’s fees may be awarded against a governmental entity in a case where a court finds that the claim brought by the governmental entity was frivolous, unreasonable, or groundless, but provides that the application of the law to governmental entities may not be interpreted to waive sovereign immunity; includes individuals in the list of parties that may seek reasonable fees and expenses in a civil suit against a state agency; and increases the amount of fees and expenses awarded against a state agency from $10,000 to $25,000, and from $30,000 to $75,000, if more than three parties in a case are eligible for an award.
The committee heard supporting testimony from a small business owner and the Hoosier Environmental Council. The bill passed 9-1.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2020/bills/senate/199