FINAL BILL REPORT
ESSB 5263
C 325 L 21
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Concerning defenses in personal injury and wrongful death actions where the person injured or killed was committing a felony.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Frockt, Pedersen, Das, Hasegawa, Hunt, Kuderer, Liias, Salda?a, Wellman and Wilson, C.).
Senate Committee on Law & Justice
House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary
Background:

It is a complete defense to any lawsuit for damages for personal injury or wrongful death that the person injured or killed was engaged in the commission of a felony which was a proximate cause of the injury or death.  However, this defense does not affect the right to bring a lawsuit under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1983.
Summary:

In actions arising out of law enforcement activities resulting in personal injury or death, it is a complete defense to the action that the finder of fact has determined beyond a reasonable doubt that the person injured or killed was engaged in the commission of a felony at the time of the occurrence causing the injury or death, the commission of which was a proximate cause of the injury or death.  However, this defense does not affect the right to bring a lawsuit under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1983.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate 28 20
House 56 42
Effective:

July 25, 2021