The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1417 on causes of action and damages authored by Rep. Lehman. The bill:
- Prohibits a cause of action against a transportation network company (TNC) on a claim that arises from a TNC rider being injured by a TNC driver or during a TNC ride;
- Limits a civil cause of action concerning a public nuisance;
- Prohibits certain causes of action against a property owner, a business owner, or a third-party business operator for a criminal act committed by another person: (1) on the property; (2) at the business; or (3) on a premises; owned by another person; and
- Provides that noneconomic damages awarded in a civil suit may not be more than $1,000,000.
The Committee amended the bill by consent to
- Remove provisions regarding prohibitions on causes of action against TNCs; prohibitions on certain causes of action against a property owner, business owner, or third-party business operator; and limitations on noneconomic damages awarded in a civil suit.
- Provide that the limitations on civil causes of action concerning public nuisances shall not affect a local administrative code or ordinance, unless the local administrative code or ordinance provides for a civil cause of action and is in conflict with certain provisions; and
- Provide that the award of attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses may not total more than $100,000 (rather than $5,000) if a recipient does not accept a qualified settlement offer and the final judgment is less favorable to the recipient than the terms of the qualified settlement offer.
The Indiana Alliance of Tort Reform, Indiana Alliance for Legal Reform, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, and National Federation of Independent Business testified in support of the bill. The Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and an attorney testified in opposition. The amended bill passed 9-4.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1417/