2017 -- H 5305

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LC001129

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --

JUDGMENTS, ORDERS AND DECREES -- INTEREST ON JUDGMENTS

     

     Introduced By: Representative Joseph M. McNamara

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 9-21-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-21 entitled "Judgments,

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Orders, and Decrees" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     9-21-10. Interest in civil actions.

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     (a) In any civil action in which a verdict is rendered or a decision made for pecuniary

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damages, there shall be added by the clerk of the court to the amount of damages interest at the

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rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum thereon from the date the cause of action accrued of the

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filing of the civil action, which shall be included in the judgment entered therein. Post-judgment

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interest shall be calculated at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum and accrue on both the

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principal amount of the judgment and the prejudgment interest entered therein. This section shall

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not apply until entry of judgment or to any contractual obligation where interest is already

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provided.

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      (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any action filed on or after January 1, 1987, for

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personal injury or wrongful death filed against a licensed physician, hospital, clinic, health

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maintenance organization, professional service corporation providing health care services, dentist,

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or dental hygienist based on professional negligence. In all such medical malpractice actions in

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which a verdict is rendered or a decision made for pecuniary damages, there shall be added by the

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clerk of the court to the amount of damages interest at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum

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thereon from the date of written notice of the claim by the claimant or his or her representative to

 

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the malpractice liability insurer, or to the medical or dental health care provider or the filing of

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the civil action, whichever first occurs.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2018.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --

JUDGMENTS, ORDERS AND DECREES -- INTEREST ON JUDGMENTS

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     This act would provide that interest on judgments would accrue from the date of the

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filing of the civil action and not the date the cause of action accrued. This would also apply to

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medical malpractice claims by repealing the section which provides that interest on the claim

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would run from the date of notice of the claim to the liability insurer or healthcare provider.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2018.

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