HB 1860 - DIGEST

(SEE ALSO PROPOSED 1ST SUB)

Declares that in any action under chapter 7.70 RCW, each side shall presumptively be entitled to only two independent experts on an issue, except upon a showing of good cause. Where there are multiple parties on a side and the parties cannot agree as to which independent experts will be called on an issue, the court, upon a showing of good cause, shall allow additional experts on an issue to be called as the court deems appropriate.

Requires that in an action under chapter 7.70 RCW, 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.

Provides that 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.