5362.E

AN ACT Relating to full disclosure of civil court proceedings relating to public hazards; adding new sections to chapter 4.24 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 4.16 RCW; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW to read as follows:

(1) As used in this section, "public hazard" means an instrumentality, including but not limited to any device, instrument, procedure, product, or a condition of a device, instrument, procedure, or product, that:

(a) Presents a real and substantial potential for repetition of the harm inflicted; or

(b) Involves a single incident which affected or was likely to affect many people.

As used in this section, the term "procedure" does not include acts or procedures by licensed professionals acting within the scope of their licenses.

(2) Except as provided in this section, no court shall enter an order or judgment which has the purpose or effect of concealing a public hazard or any relevant information or material concerning a public hazard, nor shall the court enter an order or judgment that has the purpose or effect of concealing any information or material that is relevant to the public's knowledge or understanding of a public hazard.

(3) Any portion of an agreement or contract that has the purpose or effect of concealing a public hazard, relevant information or material concerning a public hazard, or information or material that is relevant to the public's knowledge or understanding of a public hazard, is void, contrary to public policy, and may not be enforced. A party to the agreement or contract may bring a declaratory action pursuant to this section to determine whether an agreement or contract conceals a public hazard and is void.

(4)(a) In any declaratory or other civil action, a party may bring a motion for a temporary order restraining disclosure to the public or to third parties information or material about the party making the motion which is known to another party or which is sought from the party making the motion by another party. Upon good cause shown the court shall examine in camera the information or material sought to be protected. The court may in the court's discretion issue a temporary order restraining a party or parties from disseminating the protected information or material to the public or third parties. The temporary order shall terminate upon the entry of a final order or judgment or a dismissal of the action.

(b) In any final order or judgment entered in any declaratory or other civil action, if the court finds that all or portions of the information or material sought to be protected is relevant to the public's knowledge or understanding of a public hazard, the court shall provide for disclosure of the information or material. If the court finds that all or a portion of the information or material sought to be protected is not relevant to the public's knowledge or understanding of the public hazard, the court shall require the information to be sealed and may include in the final order or judgment provisions restraining any or all parties from disclosing the information which is protected.

(5)(a) Any third party, including but not limited to representatives of news media, has standing to contest a motion, order, judgment, agreement, or contract that allegedly conceals a public hazard. The third party may challenge the motion by intervention during the court action or the third party may bring a declaratory action pursuant to this section to determine whether the agreement, contract, order, or judgment conceals a public hazard.

(b) The third party must (i) establish the existence of a public hazard; (ii) establish that the public hazard was a subject within the agreement, contract, order, or judgment; and (iii) establish a basis for a reasonable belief by the third party that the agreement, contract, order, or judgment concealed the public hazard in violation of sections 1 through 3 of this act.

(c) If the court finds that the third party has met the requirements of (b) of this subsection, the court shall order the defendant to produce the information or material for an in camera review by the court. The court shall determine whether the information or material protected under the agreement, contract, order, or judgment conceals a public hazard in violation of sections 1 through 3 of this act. Upon review, the court shall issue an order regarding dissemination of the information or material in accordance with subsection (4)(b) of this section.

(d) The court may award reasonable attorneys' fees and actual costs to the prevailing party in an action under this subsection (5).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW to read as follows:

Any person who violates an order either publishing or sealing information or material issued under sections 1 through 3 of this act, shall be in contempt of court. The court shall award attorneys' fees and costs incurred in enforcing the order plus actual damages against the party who violated the order.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 4.24 RCW to read as follows:

Any party who attempts to condition an agreement or contract upon another party's agreement to conceal an instrumentality that the party knows or reasonably should have known is a public hazard or any party who enters into an agreement or contract that conceals an instrumentality that the party knows or reasonably should have known is a public hazard shall be in violation of the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW. If the party is engaged in the business of insurance then the party shall also be in violation of RCW 48.30.010.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act shall apply to all agreements, contracts, orders, and judgments entered on or after the effective date of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 4.16 RCW to read as follows:

An action for declaratory relief or other civil action brought pursuant to sections 1 through 3 of this act to determine whether an agreement, contract, order, or judgment conceals a public hazard in violation of sections 1 through 3 of this act must be brought within three years of entry of the order or judgment or three years from the date the parties entered into the agreement or contract.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993.