BILL REQ. #: H-1718.3

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SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1707
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State of Washington

61st Legislature

2009 Regular Session

By House Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Kirby, Shea, Rodne, Pettigrew, Roach, and Kelley)

READ FIRST TIME 02/16/09.

AN ACT Relating to actions by insurance companies against violators; and amending RCW 48.135.070.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 48.135.070 and 2006 c 284 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In a criminal prosecution for any crime under Washington law in which the insurance company is a victim, the insurance company is entitled to be considered as a victim in any restitution ordered by the court under RCW 9.94A.753, as part of the criminal penalty imposed against the defendant convicted for such a violation.
     (2) An insurance company that is a victim of a criminal action under subsection (1) of this section, has a cause of action against the defendant to recover compensatory damages, plus all reasonable investigation and litigation expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

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