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First Substitute H.B. 127

Representative LaVar Christensen proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
OFFER OF SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS

             2     
2005 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: LaVar Christensen

             5     
             6      LONG TITLE
             7      General Description:
             8          This bill provides for interests on judgments after an offer to settle or dismiss a lawsuit.
             9      Highlighted Provisions:
             10          This bill:
             11          .    provides for the rate of interest on a judgment following an offer to settle or dismiss
             12      a lawsuit.
             13      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             14          None
             15      Other Special Clauses:
             16          None
             17      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             18      ENACTS:
             19          78-21-4, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             20     
             21      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             22          Section 1. Section 78-21-4 is enacted to read:
             23          78-21-4. Personal injury actions.
             24          (1) As used in this section, "person" means any individual, corporation, association,
             25      limited liability company, or partnership.

             26          (2) In any action brought to recover damages for personal injury sustained by any
             27      individual resulting from or occasioned by the tort of any other person, whether by negligence
             28      or by willful intent of the other person, and whether the injury was fatal or otherwise, it is
             29      lawful for the plaintiff in the complaint to claim interest on the damages alleged as provided in
             30      this section.
             31          (3) If an offer to settle or dismiss a lawsuit made by a plaintiff is not accepted and the
             32      rejecting party does not obtain a more favorable judgment, the judgment shall bear interest at
             33      the legal rate of 10% per annum calculated from the date of the offer, which is exceeded by the
             34      judgment, and interest shall accrue until the satisfaction of judgment.
             35          (4) An offer made pursuant to Subsection (3) may not be made sooner than 120 days
             36      after service of the complaint. The offer shall be:
             37          (a) in writing;
             38          (b) made not less than ten days prior to commencement of trial; and
             39          (c) open for at least ten days after it is served.
             40          (5) This section does not apply to a public entity or to a public employee for an act or
             41      omission within the scope of employment, and neither the public entity nor the public
             42      employee shall be liable, directly or indirectly, to any person for any interest imposed by this
             43      section.

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