HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2338

BYRepresentatives Appelwick, R. Meyers, Crane and May

Raising claim limits of actions subject to mandatory arbitration.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Belcher, Brough, Dellwo, Hargrove, Inslee, P. King, R. Meyers, H. Myers, Schmidt, Scott, Tate and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Forner and Moyer.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The legislature has authorized superior courts to require that in certain kinds of civil lawsuits the parties must submit to arbitration before they may seek a court determination of their case.  Mandatory arbitration applies to all civil actions in which the sole relief sought is a money judgment of $15,000 or less. By a two-thirds vote of the judges of a superior court, the limit for mandatory arbitration cases may be raised to $35,000.

SUMMARY:

The optional limit for mandatory arbitration is raised to $70,000 for tort cases.  The limit remains at $35,000 for other kinds of cases.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 15, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Keith Kessler, WSTLA; Basil Badley, AIA; Jerry Lynch, AAI.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Mandatory arbitration has been very successful in reducing court caseloads.  Tort cases, in particular, are well suited to the expedited procedures of arbitration.  Allowing local courts to choose a higher limit will encourage further efficiency in disposing of cases.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.