SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1248

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As of March 20, 2015

Title: An act relating to court proceedings.

Brief Description: Concerning court proceedings.

Sponsors: House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Shea, Sawyer, Rodne, Jinkins, Walkinshaw, Fitzgibbon, Kilduff and Pollet).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/19/15, 78-19.

Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 3/16/15.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Staff: Melissa Burke-Cain (786-7755)

Background: The Legislature limits the district court's jurisdiction based on the case's value, or the amount at issue, in specific civil cases. The Legislature periodically adjusts this case value limit. In 2008, the most recent change, the Legislature raised the civil case jurisdiction from $50,000 per case to $75,000 per case exclusive of interest, costs, and attorneys' fees.

Mandatory superior court arbitration is required in counties with more than 100,000 persons, and voluntary for less-populous counties. Mandatory arbitration applies to all claims for money damages, except appeals from municipal and district courts, up to a case value limit of $15,000 per party. Currently, in counties where mandatory arbitration is required or authorized, a county's superior court judges may raise the mandatory arbitration limit up to $50,000 by a two-thirds vote.

A $25 fee must be charged for filing a water rights statement. Water rights statement is not a defined term or a term found in the water rights law.

Summary of Bill: Civil Claims Jurisdictional Limit in District Courts. The jurisdictional limit for civil claims in district courts is $100,000 exclusive of interest, costs, and attorneys' fees. The $100,000 case value limit applies to each claimant if a case has multiple claimants.

Mandatory Arbitration in Superior Courts.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on March 12, 2015.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill will save money for everyone involved, it will lead to a more efficient court system, and it will promote access to justice. Mandatory Arbitration (MAR) is an important process that allows counsel to give good options to clients. The Mediation Arbitration Resolution Services (MARS) system has been used in Washington for approximately 30 years. MARS works. It is the most successful model MAR system in the country. In the last three years in Washington, an average of over 4400 cases per year were put into mandatory arbitration, and over 80 percent of those cases resolved either before or at the arbitration level. Approximately 2 percent of the cases noted for MAR go to a trial de novo. Current MAR limits are too low and should be increased to $100,000 because of the increased costs of health care over time. Cases that should go to arbitration are bumping up against the $50,000 limit. For example, an emergency department visit after an accident routinely costs $15,000 to $19,000 for one person with a non-severe injury. MAR serves well for business-related or injury-related disputes. Often the fees charged for arbitration completely cover the cost of the MAR program.

CON: Testimony opposing this bill relates only to section 2 the proposed increase for the MAR limit from $50,000 to $100,000. The bill creates an unfair situation in which defendants would be required to go to arbitration for a significant case – damages up to $100,000 –w ith very little discovery and not enough time to prepare for the arbitration meeting. The MAR system results in unfair rewards skewed in plaintiffs' favor. Cases would not be expedited since many would go to trial de novo following arbitration. MAR causes the claims values to go up regardless of the case facts. MAR fosters a "split the difference" mentality that leverages defendants into a higher settlement than the case is worth. MAR is not a fair process for insurers and lacks the appearance of fairness. The real effect of the bill will be in increased insurance premium costs. The increase from $50,000 to $100,000 is out of proportion to inflation since the last MAR increase.

OTHER: The municipal and district courts favor an increase in the jurisdictional amount to $100,000 but take no position on the arbitration proposal in Section 2 of the bill.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Shea, prime sponsor; Marshall Casey, Larry Shannon, Celia Rivera, Allen Brecke, Frank Ladenburg, WA State Assn. for Justice.

CON: Melissa Roeder, Maggie Sweeney, WA Defense Trial Lawyers; Mel Sorensen, Property Casualty Insurers Assn., Allstate Insurance, American Family Insurance; Tom Underbrink, Mutual of Enumclaw Insurance; James Skogman, Pemco Insurance; Cliff Webster, Liability Reform Coalition.

OTHER: Judge Sam Meyer, District and Municipal Judges Assn.

Persons Signed in to Testify But Not Testifying: OTHER: Melanie Steward, District and Municipal Court Judges Assn.