UTAH REFORMS
Good Faith Litigation: HB 13
(1988). Requires a court to award
attorneys' fees to the prevailing party where a lawsuit or defense was not
brought in good faith.
Joint and Several
Liability Reform: HB 74 (1999): Utah Code
Ann. § 78‑27-40. Clarifies the 1986 statute that abolished joint
liability to address the Utah Supreme Court decision in Field v. The Boyer Company.
Joint and Several
Liability Reform: SB 64 (1986). Bars application of the rule of joint and several liability in the recovery of all damages.
Jury Service Reform: HB 324 (2003). Requires all people to serve on juries unless they
experience undue or extreme physical or financial hardship or incur substantial
costs or lost opportunities due to missing an event that was scheduled prior to
the initial notice of potential jury service. Provides
that a person who fails to appear for jury duty is in contempt of court and
subject to penalties under Title 78, Chapter 32, Contempt. Provides that a person who
willfully misrepresents a material fact regarding qualification for, excuse
from, or postponement of jury service is guilty of a class C misdemeanor. Provides for employee protection by
prohibiting an employer to require an employee to use annual, vacation, or sick
leave for the time spent in the jury service process. In addition, it prohibits employers to
dismiss or in any other way penalize employees for responding to a jury service
summons.
Medical Liability Reform: Arbitration: SB 138
(2003): Allows physicians to
withhold services (except in emergencies) if patient does not consent to
arbitration (oral and written consent).
Medical Liability Reform: Collateral Source Rule
Reform: Utah Code
Ann. § 78-14-4.5. Provides for awards to be offset by collateral
source payments, excluding any source for which a subrogation right exists and
any amount paid by plaintiff or the immediate family to secure the benefit.
Medical Liability Reform: Contingent Fee Reform: Utah Code
Ann. § 78-14-7.5. Limits contingent fees in medical liability cases
to 1/3 of the amount recovered.
Medical Liability Reform: Noneconomic Damages
Reform: Utah Code
Ann. § 78-14-7.1. Limits noneconomic damages in
medical liability cases to $250,000.
Medical Liability Reform: Nursing Home Care: HB 112
(2002). Adds “health care facility” to the definition of
“health care provider” in the Health Care Malpractice Act so that the state’s
medical liability reforms apply to nursing care facilities and residential
assisted living facilities.
Medical Liability Reform: Periodic Payment of
Future Damages: Utah Code
Ann. § 78-14-9.5. Allows for the periodic payment
of future medical liability damages exceeding $100,000.
Obesity
Litigation Reform: S.B. 214 (2004). Exempts from civil liability manufacturers, packers,
distributors, carriers, holders, marketers, advertisers of food, or an
association of one or more such entities when the claim is for obesity or
weight gain resulting from the consumption of food. The liability exemption does not apply if the claim
is based on a material violation of federal or state adulteration or
misbranding requirements or any other material violation of applicable federal
or state law related to the marketing, manufacturing, distribution,
advertising, labeling or sale of food that was committed knowingly and
willfully. Food is defined as any raw,
cooked, or processed edible substance, beverage, or ingredient for use or for
sale, but does not include tobacco products, alcohol products, vitamins/dietary
supplements, illegal drugs, or prescription/over-the-counter drugs. Provides for a stay of discovery during a
motion to dismiss.
Product
Liability Reform: Statute of Repose: SB 92 (1991). Establishes a 10-year statute of repose for actions
brought against architects, engineers, and builders for design error or faulty
construction. Requires that actions be
brought within two years from the date that the defect is discovered. Requires that breach of
contract or warranty claims be brought within 6 years of the date of
completion. The reform does not
apply to claims involving intentional or willful misconduct or warranties
exceeding the statutory period of six years.
The statute of repose which
provided death benefits to dependents only when work-related injury caused
death within six years of accident violated the open courts provision of the
State Constitution. Hales v. Industrial Commission of Utah, 854 P.2d
537 (Utah App. 1993).
Product Liability Reform: Government Standards
Defense: SB 25 (1989). Includes all the provisions of
the 1977 product liability statute, except the eight-year statute of repose,
which was ruled unconstitutional. The bill includes a presumptive government
standards defense for all products.
Punitive
Damages Reform: SB 24 (1989): Utah Code
Ann. § 78-18-1. Requires a plaintiff to show by “clear
and convincing” evidence that a defendant’s actions were “knowing and
reckless.” (The law previously required only a showing
that a defendant’s actions were “reckless.”)
Provides a government standard defense for FDA approved drugs. Requires the determination
of awards for punitive damages to be made in a separate proceeding on a
defendant’s motion. Requires 50% of all punitive damage awards over $20,000 to be paid
to the state fund.