BILL REQ. #:  H-2292.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/02/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to expert witnesses in actions under chapter 7.70 RCW; and adding new sections to chapter 7.70 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 7.70 RCW to read as follows:
     In any action under this chapter, each party shall presumptively be entitled to only two independent experts on an issue, except upon a showing of good cause. The court, upon a showing of good cause, shall allow additional experts on an issue to be called as the court deems appropriate.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 7.70 RCW to read as follows:
     In an action under this chapter, all parties shall submit a pretrial expert report pursuant to time frames provided in court rules. The expert report must disclose the identity of all expert witnesses and state the nature of the opinions the expert witnesses will present as testimony at trial. Further depositions of these expert witnesses is prohibited. The testimony that an expert witness may present at trial is limited in nature to the opinions disclosed to the court as part of the pretrial expert report. The legislature respectfully requests that the supreme court adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 7.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In an action against an individual health care provider under this chapter for personal injury or wrongful death in which the injury is alleged to have been caused by an act or omission that violates the accepted standard of care, the plaintiff must file a certificate of merit at the time of commencing the action. If the action is commenced within forty-five days of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, the plaintiff must file the certificate of merit within forty-five days of commencing the action.
     (2) The certificate of merit must be executed by a health care provider who meets the qualifications of an expert under this chapter. If there is more than one defendant in the action, the person commencing the action must file a certificate of merit for each defendant.
     (3) The certificate of merit must contain a statement that the person executing the certificate of merit believes, based on the information known at the time of executing the certificate of merit, that there is a reasonable probability that the defendant's conduct did not follow the accepted standard of care required to be exercised by the defendant.
     (4) Upon motion of the plaintiff, the court may grant an additional period of time to file the certificate of merit, not to exceed ninety days, if the court finds there is good cause for the extension.
     (5)(a) Failure to file a certificate of merit that complies with the requirements of this section is grounds for dismissal of the case.
     (b) If a case is dismissed for failure to file a certificate of merit that complies with the requirements of this section, the filing of the claim against the health care provider shall not be used against the health care provider in professional liability insurance rate setting, personal credit history, or professional licensing and credentialing.