ALASKA REFORMS
Collateral Source Rule Reform: SB 337 (1986):
Alaska Stat. § 9.17.070. Permits the admissibility
of evidence of collateral source payments. Provides for awards to be
offset, less any amount paid by the claimant to secure the benefit, e.g.,
insurance premiums.
Comparative
Negligence: HB 58 (1997); Amending Alaska R.
Civ. Proc. 16.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 26; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 41; Alaska R.
Civ. Proc. 49; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 58; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 68; Alaska R. Civ.
Proc. 72.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 82; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 95; D. Ak. LR 1; D. Ak.
LR 4; Alaska R. Evid. 702; Alaska R. App. Proc. 511. Establishes
a comparative allocation of fault between parties and non-parties. The reform
did not violate the right to a jury trial, the right to equal protection, or
the right to substantive due process in the State or Federal Constitutions, the
separation of powers doctrine, or the right of access to the courts or ban on
“special legislation” in the State Constitution). Evans v. State, 2002 WL 1998141 (Alaska Aug. 30, 2002).
Joint
and Several Liability Reform: Proposition 2 (1988). Bars
application of the rule of joint and several liability in the recovery of all
damages.
Medical Liability Reform: Contingent Fee Reform:
Alaska Stat. § 9.60.080. Requires that contingent fees be calculated
exclusive of punitive damages.
Medical Liability Reform/Noneconomic Damages
Reform: SB 67 (2005); Alaska Stat. § 09.55.549. Lowers the limit on noneconomic
damages in medical liability cases to $250,000. In the most
severe cases involving disfigurement, severe permanent physical impairment, and
wrongful death, the limit on noneconomic damages is $400,000. The previous limit on noneconomic damages ranged
from $400,000 to $1 million, depending on the severity of the injuries.
Medical
Liability Reform: Vicarious Liability: HB 58 (1997); Amending Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 16.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 26;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 41; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 49; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 58;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 68; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 72.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 82;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 95; D. Ak. LR 1; D. Ak. LR 4; Alaska R. Evid.
702; Alaska
R. App. Proc. 511. Creates partial immunity
for hospitals from vicarious liability for some physicians’ actions. The
reform did not violate the right to a jury trial, the right to equal
protection, or the right to substantive due process in the State or Federal
Constitutions, the separation of powers doctrine, or the right of access to the
courts or ban on “special legislation” in the State Constitution). Evans v. State, 2002 WL 1998141 (Alaska Aug. 30, 2002).
Noneconomic Damages Reform: HB 58
(1997): Alaska Stat. § 9.17.010. Limits noneconomic damages awarded for most
single injuries or deaths to the greater of $400,000 or the injured person’s
life expectancy in years multiplied by $8,000.
Limits noneconomic damages for personal injuries involving permanent
physical impairment or severe disfigurement to the greater of $1,000,000 or the
person’s life expectancy in years multiplied by $25,000. The reform did not violate the right to a jury
trial, the right to equal protection, or the right to substantive due process
in the State or Federal Constitutions, the separation of powers doctrine, or
the right of access to the courts or ban on “special legislation” in the State
Constitution). Evans v. State, 2002 WL
1998141 (Alaska
Aug. 30, 2002).
Noneconomic Damages Reform: SB 337 (1986). Establishes
a $500,000 cap on noneconomic damages for cases not involving physical
impairment or disfigurement.
Offer
of Judgment: HB 58 (1997); Amending Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 16.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 26;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 41; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 49; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 58;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 68; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 72.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 82;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 95; D. Ak. LR 1; D. Ak. LR 4; Alaska R. Evid.
702; Alaska
R. App. Proc. 511. Strengthens the offer of judgment rule. The
reform did not violate the right to a jury trial, the right to equal
protection, or the right to substantive due process in the State or Federal
Constitutions, the separation of powers doctrine, or the right of access to the
courts or ban on “special legislation” in the State Constitution). Evans v. State, 2002 WL 1998141 (Alaska Aug. 30, 2002).
Periodic Payment of Future Damages: SB 337 (1986): Allows a court to order periodic payments of future
damages.
Product Liability Reform: HB 160 (1994); Amends Alaska Stat. § 5.10.050; Alaska Stat. § 9.10.055. Provides
for a 15-year statute of repose in civil actions brought against design and
construction professionals. The statute
would begin to run from substantial completion of the work and require that
liability be assigned proportionally to the defendant's degree of fault.
Punitive Damages Reform: HB 58 (1997); Amending Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 16.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 26;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 41; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 49; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 58;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 68; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 72.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 82;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 95; D. Ak. LR 1; D. Ak. LR 4; Alaska R. Evid.
702; Alaska
R. App. Proc. 511. Limits
the award of punitive damages in most cases to the greater of three times the
award of compensatory damages or $500,000. Limits the award of punitive
damages to the greater of four times compensatory damages, four times the
aggregate amount of financial gain, or $7,000,000, when the defendant’s action
is motivated by financial gain. Limits
punitive damages in unlawful employment practices lawsuits to: $200,000, when
the employer has less than 100 employees in the state; $300,000, when the
employer has more than 100, but less than 200 employees in the state; $400,000,
when the employer has more than 200, but less than 500 employees in the state;
and $500,000, when the employer has more than 500 employees in the state. Requires a plaintiff to
show by “clear and convincing” evidence that a defendant acted with “reckless
indifference” or was engaged in “outrageous” conduct. Requires the determination
of awards for punitive damages to be made in a separate proceeding. Requires that 50% of punitive damages awards be
paid to the state treasury. The
reform did not violate the right to a jury trial, the right to equal
protection, or the right to substantive due process in the State or Federal
Constitutions, the separation of powers doctrine, or the right of access to the
courts or ban on “special legislation” in the State Constitution). Evans v. State, 2002 WL 1998141 (Alaska Aug. 30, 2002).
Punitive
Damages Reform: SB 337 (1986). Requires
a plaintiff to prove punitive damages by “clear and convincing” evidence.
Statute
of Limitations Reform: HB 58 (1997); Amending Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 16.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 26;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 41; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 49; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 58;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 68; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 72.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 82;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 95; D. Ak. LR 1; D. Ak. LR 4; Alaska R. Evid.
702; Alaska
R. App. Proc. 511. Establishes a modified tolling provision for
the statute of limitations as applied to minors. The
reform did not violate the right to a jury trial, the right to equal
protection, or the right to substantive due process in the State or Federal
Constitutions, the separation of powers doctrine, or the right of access to the
courts or ban on “special legislation” in the State Constitution). Evans v. State, 2002 WL 1998141 (Alaska Aug. 30, 2002).
Statute
of Repose Reform: HB 58 (1997); Amending Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 16.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 26;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 41; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 49; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 58;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 68; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 72.1; Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 82;
Alaska R. Civ. Proc. 95; D. Ak. LR 1; D. Ak. LR 4; Alaska R. Evid.
702; Alaska
R. App. Proc. 511. Establishes a ten-year
statute of repose. The reform did not violate the right to a
jury trial, the right to equal protection, or the right to substantive due
process in the State or Federal Constitutions, the separation of powers
doctrine, or the right of access to the courts or ban on “special legislation”
in the State Constitution). Evans v.
State, 2002 WL 1998141 (Alaska
Aug. 30, 2002).