H-4157              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1857

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Rust and Wang

Read first time 1/23/86 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to findings of fact and verdicts in personal injury and wrongful death actions; and adding a new section to chapter 4.44 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 4.44 RCW to read as follows:

          In any personal injury or wrongful death action in which it is determined that liability exists on the part of any party, the trier of fact shall, as part of the findings of fact or verdict, itemize any amounts awarded into the following categories of damages:

          (1) Amounts intended to compensate for expenses which have been or will be incurred for medical, dental, ambulance, hospital, nursing, and rehabilitative services, including prosthetic devices, drugs, and therapy;

          (2) Amounts intended to compensate the plaintiff for lost wages, loss of earning capacity and other economic losses, and for the inconvenience of the plaintiff, which have been or will be incurred;

          (3) Amounts intended to compensate the plaintiff for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, embarrassment, and other items of general damages which have been or will be incurred in the future; and

          (4) Any damages not included in subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section.