2019 -- H 5996

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LC002114

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

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

JUDGMENTS, ORDERS, AND DECREES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Kislak, Almeida, Diaz, and Hull

     Date Introduced: April 11, 2019

     Referred To: House Finance

     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 provided in this section from the date the cause

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of action accrued, which shall be included in the judgment entered therein. Post-judgment interest

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shall be calculated at the same 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 provided in this section from the date of written notice of the claim by the claimant or his

 

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or her representative to the malpractice liability insurer, or to the medical or dental health care

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provider or the filing of the civil action, whichever first occurs.

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     (c) For purposes of this section, interest will be calculated at a rate equal to the weekly

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average one year constant maturity Treasury yield, as published by the Board of Governors of the

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Federal Reserve System, for the calendar week preceding the date of the judgment.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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

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     This act provides that interest on civil actions would be calculated at a rate equal to the

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weekly average one year constant maturity Treasury yield, as published by the Board of

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Governors of the Federal Reserve System, for the calendar week preceding the date of the

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judgment.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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