Session: State Capitol, Room 118 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4968 Fax: (907) 465-2040 Subscribe to Newsletter District 11 & Judiciary Committee Info Interim: 716 W 4th, Suite 350 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Phone: (907) 269-0117 Fax: (907) 269-0119

House Encourages Reporting on Tort Cases
Passes HB 384 to Collect Data on Resolution of Civil Lawsuits Fields

(JUNEAU) - The House today passed legislation aimed at encouraging lawyers and other participants in civil lawsuits to do a better job of reporting the outcome of the cases, to provide better information about the effectiveness of Alaska’s efforts at tort reform.

Sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee, HB 384 seeks to improve compliance with a 1997 state tort reform law requiring attorneys to report on the disposition of tort cases, by simplifying the data reporting form and clarifying an attorney’s duty in reporting such information.

“This bill clarifies and simplifies the existing statutes regarding what information needs to be reported, when the information needs to be reported, and what cases are no longer required to be reported,” said Rep. Norman Rokeberg (R-Anchorage), chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

In fulfilling the recommendations of an earlier statewide task force on civil justice, the Legislature in 1997 passed a major tort reform law. That law included requirements that lawyers and parties to tort cases complete and submit forms to the Alaska Judicial Council briefly detailing the disposition of the cases, and that the Council would issue annual reports based on that information.

“Despite this requirement in statute, the latest report from the Judicial Council, issued last May, indicated that less than half of the required forms were being submitted by attorneys,” Rokeberg said. “The court system and the Legislature need this information to show us that tort reform is working as it should, and if it’s not, what kinds of changes might be necessary.”

In addition to simplifying the Alaska Judicial Council’s reporting forms, the bill amends certain court rules to emphasize and clarify an attorney’s duties regarding reporting this information.

HB 384 passed the House unanimously, and moves next to the Senate for consideration.

# # #

Attachments:

• Print Friendly Version
  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 1 page(s) - 23K

Broadcasters Note: Audio comments are available on the Majority Actuality line:
1-800-478-6540 or below.

| Rep. Rokeberg's Page |

| Top | Home | Site Search | Breaking News | Legislators | Bills |
| Committees | E-Newsletter | Surveys | Research | Help |

The Official Web Site of the House and Senate Legislative Majorities
for the 22nd Alaska State Legislature
To Report Technical Problems or Contact Webmasters