The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 55, Sen. Steele’s bill on medical malpractice actions that permits a patient to bring an action against a health care provider without submitting the complaint to the Medical Review Board if the amount of the claim is not more than $187,000. Under current law, a patient may bring a direct action only if the amount is not more than $15,000. A … [Read more...] about Medical malpractice actions
Civil
Judgments
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 354, Sen. Steele’s bill on judgments, providing that a judgment creditor may require a judgment debtor to appear in court to provide information concerning the judgment debtor's income and assets: (1) at any time, if the judgment debtor's circumstances have changed; or (2) not more than one time every six months. It also permits a court, after … [Read more...] about Judgments
Judgment dockets
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard Rep. Richardson’s HB 1141 pertaining to judgment dockets. This bill was prepared at the request of the Supreme Court Records Management Committee to clarify changes made last session to the judgment docket. The bill specifies that the clerk of the circuit court is the official keeper of the judgment docket and shall keep the j … [Read more...] about Judgment dockets
Passenger restraint systems
The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1011, authored by Rep. Torr, on passenger restraint systems. Rep. Torr introduced this bill explaining that it repeals the current provision that failure to comply with safety belt laws and child passenger restraint system laws does not constitute fault or contributory negligence. The bill also prohibits the admission of evidence of failure to … [Read more...] about Passenger restraint systems
Actions against a surveyor
The House Judiciary Committee heard HB 1050, authored by Rep. Ober and Rep. McMillin, on actions against a surveyor. Rep. Ober introduced this bill, and explained that it provides that an action to recover damages for a deficiency in a land survey must be brought against the surveyor not later than 10 years after the date of the survey. The bill also sets forth requirements for … [Read more...] about Actions against a surveyor