H-4211              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1965

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Locke and J. Williams

Read first time 1/24/86 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to itemization of verdicts and payment of judgments in tort actions; and adding new sections to chapter 4.56 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 4.56 RCWto read as follows:

          In an action for damages for personal injury, wrongful death, or damage to property, the court shall instruct the jury that if the jury finds a verdict awarding damages, it shall in its verdict specify the damages that have been incurred prior to the verdict and amounts intended to compensate for damages to be incurred in the future.  Specification of damages incurred prior to the verdict shall include general, special, and present damages.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 4.56 RCW to read as follows:

          In an action for personal injury, wrongful death, or damage to property, in which a jury verdict awarding damages is made, or in which trial is by the court, the court shall, at the request of a party, enter a judgment ordering that money damages or its equivalent for damages specified in section 1 of this act be paid in whole or in part by periodic payments rather than by a lump sum payment.  In entering a judgment ordering the payment of damages specified in section 1 of this act by periodic payments, the court shall make a specific finding as to the dollar amount of periodic payments that will compensate the party in whose favor the award is made.