2023 -- H 5573

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LC001735

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR

ACTIONS -- DEATH BY WRONGFUL ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Perez, Diaz, Lima, P. Morgan, Corvese, Phillips,
Costantino, Azzinaro, Hull, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 10-7-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 10-7 entitled "Death by

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Wrongful Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     10-7-2. Persons who may bring actions — Limitation of actions — Minimum recovery

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period.

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     Every action under this chapter, other than one brought under § 10-7-1.2, shall be brought

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by and in the name of the executor or administrator of the deceased person, whether appointed or

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qualified within or without the state, and of the amount recovered in every action under this chapter

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one-half (½) shall go to the husband or widow, and one-half (½) shall go to the children of the

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deceased, and if there are no children, the whole shall go to the husband or widow, and, if there is

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no husband or widow, to the next of kin, in the proportion provided by law in relation to the

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distribution of personal property left by persons dying intestate; except that no person who is

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adjudged to be in willful contempt of being in excess of six (6) months in arrears of an order to pay

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child support for the deceased individual shall be allowed recovery pursuant to this chapter and a

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person so adjudged shall be deemed to have predeceased the child for the purpose of determining

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distribution under the intestacy statute. Every action brought under § 10-7-1.2 shall be brought by

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and in the name of the person or persons sustaining the loss of society, companionship and/or

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consortium and the amount recovered shall go to the person or persons who sustained the loss.

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Except as otherwise provided, every action brought pursuant to this chapter shall be commenced

 

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within three (3) years after the death of the person. With respect to any death caused by any

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wrongful act, neglect or default which is not known at the time of death, the action shall be

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commenced within three (3) years of the time that the wrongful act, neglect or default is discovered

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or, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have been discovered. With respect to any

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wrongful act, neglect or default resulting in the death of a child in utero or within six (6) months

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after the birth of the child, the action shall be commenced within six (6) years after the death of the

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child. Whenever any person or corporation is found liable under §§ 10-7-1 — 10-7-4 he or she or

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it shall be liable in damages in the sum of not less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars

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($250,000).

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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 IN PARTICULAR

ACTIONS -- DEATH BY WRONGFUL ACT

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     This act would expand the statute of limitations with respect to any wrongful act resulting

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in the death of a child in utero or within six (6) months after the birth of the child, to six (6) years

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after the death of the child.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001735

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