2002 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 627 – Small Lawsuit Resolution Act

HOUSE BILL NO. 627

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H0627................................by JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION
SMALL LAWSUIT RESOLUTION ACT - Adds to existing law to provide a small
lawsuit resolution procedure; to provide for qualification, appointment and
compensation of evaluators; to provide authority for evaluators; to provide
for prehearing and hearing procedures; to provide for evaluation decisions,
awards, judgments and the award of attorney's fees and costs; to provide
for appeals and trial de novo; and to provide for statistical records.
                                                                        
02/12    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/13    Rpt prt - to Jud
02/20    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
02/21    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
02/26    3rd rdg - PASSED - 68-0-2
      AYES -- Aikele, Barraclough, Barrett, Bedke, Bell, Bieter, Black,
      Block, Boe, Bolz, Bradford, Bruneel, Callister, Campbell, Clark,
      Collins, Cuddy, Deal, Denney, Ellis, Ellsworth, Eskridge, Field(13),
      Field(20), Gagner, Gould, Hadley, Hammond, Harwood, Henbest, Higgins,
      Hornbeck, Jaquet, Jones, Kellogg(Duncan), Kendell, Kunz, Lake,
      Langford, Loertscher, Mader, Martinez, McKague, Meyer, Montgomery,
      Moyle, Pearce, Pischner, Pomeroy, Raybould, Ridinger, Roberts,
      Robison, Sali, Schaefer, Sellman, Shepherd, Smith(33), Smith(23),
      Smylie, Stevenson, Stone, Tilman, Trail, Wheeler, Wood, Young, Mr.
      Speaker
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Crow, Mortensen
    Floor Sponsor - Smith(23)
    Title apvd - to Senate
02/27    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Jud
03/07    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/08    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/14    3rd rdg - PASSED - 35-0-0
      AYES -- Andreason, Boatright, Branch(Bartlett), Brandt, Bunderson,
      Burtenshaw, Cameron, Darrington, Davis, Deide, Dunklin, Frasure,
      Geddes, Goedde, Hawkins, Hill, Ingram, Ipsen, Keough, King-Barrutia,
      Little, Lodge, Marley, Noh, Richardson, Risch, Sandy, Schroeder,
      Sims, Sorensen, Stegner, Stennett, Thorne, Wheeler, Williams
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- None
    Floor Sponsor - Davis
    Title apvd - to House
03/14    To enrol
03/15    Rpt enrol - Sp signed
    Pres signed
03/15    To Governor
03/20    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 137
         Effective: 01/01/03, for all cases filed on or after date
         Sunset clause:06/30/06

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  Second Regular Session - 2002
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 627
                                                                        
                      BY JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO SPECIAL COURT PROCEEDINGS; AMENDING TITLE 7, IDAHO  CODE,  BY  THE
  3        ADDITION  OF  A  NEW  CHAPTER  15, TITLE 7, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE A SHORT
  4        TITLE, TO PROVIDE AUTHORIZATION, TO PROVIDE FOR APPLICATION OF  THE  CHAP-
  5        TER,  TO PROVIDE FOR INITIATION OF THE PROCESS, TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE AND
  6        TO PROVIDE FOR MOTIONS FOR REMOVAL FROM EVALUATION, TO  AUTHORIZE  CERTAIN
  7        PERSONS  TO ACT AS EVALUATORS, TO PROVIDE FOR APPROVED EVALUATORS, TO PRO-
  8        VIDE FOR THE SELECTION OF EVALUATORS, TO AUTHORIZE THE  SUPREME  COURT  TO
  9        PRESCRIBE  RULES,  STANDARDS  AND  PROCEDURES AND TO PROVIDE FOR EXEMPTION
 10        FROM OPERATION OF THE CHAPTER, TO PROVIDE FOR THE QUALIFICATION,  APPOINT-
 11        MENT  AND  COMPENSATION OF EVALUATORS, TO PROVIDE AUTHORITY FOR EVALUATORS
 12        AND TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR SERVICE, FILING AND COMPUTATION OF TIME, TO
 13        PROVIDE FOR DISCOVERY, TO PROVIDE FOR PREHEARING AND  HEARING  PROCEDURES,
 14        TO PROVIDE FOR EVALUATION DECISIONS AND AWARDS, TO PROVIDE FOR APPEALS, TO
 15        PROVIDE  FOR  TRIAL  DE  NOVO,  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  AWARD  OF COSTS AND
 16        ATTORNEY'S FEES, TO PROVIDE FOR JUDGMENT, TO PROVIDE FOR  THE  APPLICATION
 17        OF  OTHER LAWS AND TO PROVIDE FOR JUDGMENT FOR EVALUATOR'S FEES AND COSTS,
 18        TO PROVIDE FOR THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY, TO PROVIDE FOR SEVERABILITY, TO
 19        PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN STATISTICAL RECORDS AND TO PROVIDE FOR COMMENCEMENT OF
 20        COMPILATION OF EVALUATOR LISTS; TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE,  TO  PROVIDE
 21        FOR APPLICATION AND TO PROVIDE A SUNSET CLAUSE.
                                                                        
 22    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 23        SECTION  1.  That  Title 7, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby amended
 24    by the addition thereto of a NEW CHAPTER, to be known and designated as  Chap-
 25    ter 15, Title 7, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
                                                                        
 26                                      CHAPTER 15
 27                             SMALL LAWSUIT RESOLUTION ACT
                                                                        
 28        7-1501.  SHORT TITLE. This chapter shall be referred to as the "Small Law-
 29    suit Resolution Act."
                                                                        
 30        7-1502.  AUTHORIZATION.  To  reduce the cost and expense of litigation and
 31    encourage the swift, fair and cost-effective resolution of disputes, the  leg-
 32    islature  hereby  establishes a system to encourage civil litigants to resolve
 33    their disputes through alternative dispute resolution. The  procedures  to  be
 34    utilized under this chapter, while based on the alternative dispute resolution
 35    processes  of  arbitration,  mediation,  and  early  neutral  evaluation,  are
 36    intended  to  be  as  informal  as  practicable to accomplish these concurrent
 37    objectives.
                                                                        
 38        7-1503.  ACTIONS TO WHICH THE IDAHO CIVIL  EVALUATION  OPTION  APPLIES  --
 39    INITIATION OF PROCESS -- OPTION TO MEDIATE -- MOTIONS FOR REMOVAL FROM EVALUA-
 40    TION. (1) Civil actions in which the sole relief sought is a money judgment in
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    which  the  parties  agree  that  the total claims for all damages sought by a
  2    party do not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) shall be subject to
  3    the provisions of this chapter. This chapter shall not apply to  appeals  from
  4    the  magistrates  division,  disputes  subject to arbitration under chapter 9,
  5    title 7, Idaho Code, proceedings in the small claims division of the  district
  6    court,  cases seeking a punitive damages award, or cases in which this chapter
  7    has been previously invoked.
  8        (2)  The provisions of this chapter may be initiated by any party  by  the
  9    filing of a notice with the court. The notice shall be filed at least one hun-
 10    dred  fifty  (150) days prior to a scheduled trial but, without the consent of
 11    all parties, may not be filed within forty-five (45) days following  the  ser-
 12    vice  of  a  complaint.  The trial court shall retain jurisdiction over a case
 13    proceeding under this chapter and the case shall remain on the court's  active
 14    calendar.
 15        (3)  The  parties shall confer after the filing of the notice to determine
 16    if they wish to undertake evaluation or mediation. If they agree  to  mediate,
 17    the  parties  may  agree  upon a mediator or utilize as mediator an individual
 18    selected pursuant to the evaluator selection provisions of this chapter. If  a
 19    mediation  has  been  conducted  under this chapter, and the mediation has not
 20    resulted in the settlement of all claims, within fourteen (14) days  following
 21    such  mediation,  the  parties shall file a notice with the clerk of the court
 22    that a mediation has been completed, that all claims have not been settled and
 23    specifying the claims which remain. Within twenty-eight (28)  days  after  the
 24    notice is filed, the court shall issue a scheduling order or hold a scheduling
 25    conference pursuant to the Idaho rules of civil procedure.
 26        (4)  If the parties are not able to agree whether to undertake a mediation
 27    or an evaluation under this chapter, a party has seven (7) days after the fil-
 28    ing  of the notice of the initiation of the provisions of this chapter to file
 29    a motion seeking the court to order which form of alternative dispute  resolu-
 30    tion  will  be used. The moving party has a right to a hearing pursuant to the
 31    Idaho rules of civil procedure. In making its determination on the motion, the
 32    court shall consider, among other factors it deems relevant, the nature of the
 33    claim(s) and the defense(s), the prior experience, if any, of the  parties  or
 34    their counsel with mediation or evaluation, in this or other cases, the poten-
 35    tial  likelihood  that  the  facts alleged in a claim, if proven, will lead to
 36    liability of one party to another, and the complexity  of  the  case.  If  the
 37    court  does  not determine that mediation is a preferable means of alternative
 38    dispute resolution for the particular case, it shall order the parties to con-
 39    duct an evaluation under the provisions of this chapter.
 40        (5)  Any party may move the court for removal from the evaluation  at  any
 41    stage for good cause. The court shall grant such motion upon its determination
 42    that  there  has been a substantial change in circumstances or that there is a
 43    reasonable potential for the moving party  to  later  seek  amendment  to  its
 44    pleadings  to  allow that party to pursue punitive damages, making the evalua-
 45    tion option an inappropriate method to obtain  resolution  of  the  particular
 46    dispute.
                                                                        
 47        7-1504.  SELECTION  OF  EVALUATOR  -- COURT ADMINISTRATION OF PROCEDURE --
 48    RULES, STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES -- EXEMPTION FROM OPERATION  OF  THE  CHAPTER.
 49    (1)  All  senior  and sitting magistrate judges, district judges and appellate
 50    court  judges  and  justices  are  authorized  to  act  as  civil   litigation
 51    evaluators.  The  supreme  court  may  establish   by rule, procedures for the
 52    appointment and use, where available, of such judges  as  evaluators  for  the
 53    purposes of this chapter.
 54        (2)  The  supreme  court shall maintain a list of private civil litigation
                                                                        
                                           3
                                                                        
  1    evaluators who are approved to serve in each district pursuant to this chapter
  2    and any rules adopted by the supreme court. Each county's clerk of  the  court
  3    shall  from time to time be provided by the supreme court a list of evaluators
  4    who are approved to serve in that county pursuant  to  this  chapter  and  any
  5    rules adopted by the supreme court.
  6        (3)  Unless a judge is assigned as an evaluator pursuant to court rule, or
  7    unless  the  parties  have  agreed in advance to the selection of a particular
  8    evaluator, upon receipt of a notice of initiation of the  provisions  of  this
  9    chapter,  the  clerk  of the court shall provide each party to the case a list
 10    containing the names of the same five (5)  randomly  selected  evaluators.  If
 11    there  are more than two (2) parties to the litigation, the clerk will provide
 12    ten (10) names.
 13        (4)  In every case each party may submit requests for replacement  list(s)
 14    to  the  clerk  within three (3) days of receipt of a list of evaluators. Upon
 15    receipt of such a request, the clerk of the court shall provide each party  to
 16    the  case  a  new  list  containing an appropriate number of names of randomly
 17    selected evaluators.
 18        (5)  Within seven (7)  days of receipt of the list, it shall be  the  duty
 19    of  the  party that filed the notice initiating proceedings under this chapter
 20    to initiate contact with the representatives of the other  litigants  for  the
 21    purpose  of  selecting  an evaluator. Unless the parties agree on a particular
 22    evaluator or a different method of selection, selection of the evaluator  will
 23    be  by  alternating  strikes. The representative of the initiating party shall
 24    strike an  evaluator's  name,  the  opposing  counsel  shall  then  strike  an
 25    evaluator's name with the parties alternating until only one (1) name is left.
 26    If there are more than two (2) parties, the strikes shall be made in the order
 27    the  parties'  names appear on the case caption commencing with the initiating
 28    party. The initiating party shall file notice of the selected evaluator within
 29    ten (10) days of the receipt of the list.
 30        (6)  If there is any dispute or failure to cooperate  with  the  selection
 31    procedures  contained  in  this  section, any party may file a motion with the
 32    court for assistance in  selection  of  an  evaluator.  No  hearing  shall  be
 33    required  and the court shall rule on such motion expeditiously and take what-
 34    ever steps are necessary to obtain the prompt selection of  an  evaluator.  If
 35    the  court  finds  that a party has requested a replacement list of evaluators
 36    unreasonably or determines it is otherwise appropriate, the court may  appoint
 37    a  sitting  or  retired  judge  or  a private lawyer from the list of approved
 38    evaluators to serve as evaluator for the case.
 39        (7)  Upon application by any party made no sooner than fourteen (14)  days
 40    after  the  filing  of  the  notice of request for civil evaluation, the clerk
 41    shall assign by random lot any of the individuals identified on  the  list  as
 42    the  evaluator  if  no  notice  of selection or motion for assistance has been
 43    filed.
 44        (8)  Nothing shall preclude the parties stipulating to the appointment  of
 45    any  individual  who agrees to serve as their evaluator under this statute. If
 46    the parties stipulate to the appointment of an evaluator different from one on
 47    the list provided by the clerk, they shall file  a  joint  statement  to  that
 48    effect with the court.
 49        (9)  To  the  extent  it  deems necessary, the supreme court may prescribe
 50    rules to reduce the costs of evaluation under this chapter. It may  also  pre-
 51    scribe  forms to be used in the evaluation process, and other rules, standards
 52    or procedures it deems appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
 53        (10) The supreme court may exempt all cases filed in  the  courts  of  any
 54    county    from the operation of this chapter if, following application made by
 55    the administrative judge of the judicial district which includes that  county,
                                                                        
                                           4
                                                                        
  1    the  supreme  court determines the county does not have sufficient judicial or
  2    other resources to implement and effectuate the purposes of  this  chapter  or
  3    for other good cause shown.
                                                                        
  4        7-1505.  QUALIFICATIONS,  APPOINTMENT  AND COMPENSATION OF EVALUATORS. (1)
  5    Any individual desiring to be on a list of private civil litigation evaluators
  6    under this chapter shall submit a request to  the  supreme  court  identifying
  7    each  district  in which the individual wishes to serve. The task of acting as
  8    an evaluator under this chapter shall be a service to the  judiciary  and  the
  9    legal  profession.  The legislature encourages members of the bar to accept up
 10    to two (2) appointments under this chapter on a pro bono basis each year.
 11        (2)  To serve as a private civil litigation evaluator, a person must  cur-
 12    rently  be  an  active  member of the Idaho state bar association and have had
 13    such membership for a minimum of seven (7) years or be a retired judge. To the
 14    extent it deems them necessary, the supreme court may prescribe by rule  addi-
 15    tional  qualifications  for  civil  litigation evaluators in some or all cases
 16    with the purpose of providing the largest pool of individuals with the  knowl-
 17    edge  and  experience to fairly determine claims under this chapter at minimal
 18    or no cost to litigants.
 19        (3)  Upon appointment in each case, the evaluator must  sign  an  oath  to
 20    fulfill the duties of the office, including the impartial, unbiased and timely
 21    discharge  of  those  duties.  He must also affirmatively state that he has no
 22    conflict of interest. Challenges to the service of an evaluator shall be  made
 23    by  motion to the trial court and shall be heard expeditiously. Evaluators may
 24    decline any appointments for the balance of  a  calendar  year  without  cause
 25    after  serving  as  an  evaluator  twice  during the year. The trial court may
 26    otherwise excuse  evaluators  from  an  appointment  for  good  cause.  If  an
 27    evaluator  declines  or is excused from service, a new list shall be requested
 28    from the clerk for selection of an evaluator.
 29        (4)  Evaluators shall submit their rates of hourly compensation,  if  any,
 30    to  the supreme court when submitting their request to be on the list of civil
 31    litigation evaluators. The clerk shall include the rate  of  hourly  compensa-
 32    tion,  if  any,  for each evaluator in the list of names submitted to the par-
 33    ties. The parties shall each pay an equal portion of a private evaluator's fee
 34    if any is charged as well as an equal portion of any actual costs incurred  by
 35    the  private evaluator. Individuals who wish to serve as private civil litiga-
 36    tion evaluators under this chapter other than on a pro bono basis shall  agree
 37    to serve as an evaluator in exchange for a fee not to exceed one thousand dol-
 38    lars  ($1,000)  unless  the  parties  agree  otherwise. Provided however, that
 39    judges assigned as evaluators pursuant to court rule shall not be  compensated
 40    by the parties.
                                                                        
 41        7-1506.  EVALUATOR AUTHORITY -- PROCEDURES RELATING TO SERVICE, FILING AND
 42    COMPUTATION OF TIME. (1) An evaluator has the authority to:
 43        (a)  Decide   procedural   issues   relating to the conduct of the evalua-
 44        tion, including discovery disputes, arising  before  or during the evalua-
 45        tion process except issues relating to the qualification of the evaluator,
 46        which shall be decided by the trial court.
 47        (b)  Invite, with reasonable notice, the parties to submit  pre-evaluation
 48        briefs;
 49        (c)  Examine any site or object relevant to the case;
 50        (d)  Administer  oaths  and  affirmations to witnesses for the purposes of
 51        the evaluation;
 52        (e)  Rule on the admissibility of evidence;
 53        (f)  Determine the facts, decide the law, issue a decision,  and  make  an
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1        award;
  2        (g)  Adjust  or  extend statutory deadlines set forth in this chapter, for
  3        good cause shown; and
  4        (h)  Take  such  other acts as are necessary to accomplish the object of a
  5        fair, swift, and cost-effective determination of the case.
  6        (2)  An evaluator shall not decide motions to dismiss, motions to  add  or
  7    change  parties  in the case, or motions for summary judgment. Any such motion
  8    shall be presented to the trial court for determination.
  9        (3)  After the case is assigned to the evaluator, service  shall  be  made
 10    consistent with rule 5 of the Idaho rules of civil procedure, except that doc-
 11    uments used in the evaluation shall be filed with the evaluator instead of the
 12    court.
 13        (4)  Time shall be computed pursuant to the Idaho rules  of  civil  proce-
 14    dure.
 15        (5)  Except  for  the  authority  expressly  given to an evaluator by this
 16    chapter, all issues shall be determined by the court.
                                                                        
 17        7-1507.  DISCOVERY. (1) Unless the evaluator orders otherwise:
 18        (a)  A defending party may demand in writing a statement from each  claim-
 19        ant  setting forth separately the amounts of any special, general or other
 20        damages  sought  in the evaluation. Such statement shall be  served on all
 21        parties no later than twenty-one (21) days after receipt of the demand;
 22        (b)  A party may take the deposition of  another  party  pursuant  to  the
 23        Idaho rules of civil procedure;
 24        (c)  If  the  physical  or mental condition of a claimant is at issue, the
 25        defending parties may obtain the relevant medical reports of the  claimant
 26        and one (1) defendant's medical examination of the claimant. The evaluator
 27        shall decide any limitations to be placed on the time, place, manner, con-
 28        ditions or scope of the examination if requested. A claimant shall have an
 29        absolute  right  to  a copy of any document created by the examiner or the
 30        examiner's employees or agents during or after the examination. Such mate-
 31        rials shall be provided to the claimant within fourteen (14) days  of  the
 32        date  of  the  examination and no later than twenty-one (21) days prior to
 33        the evaluation  hearing  date.  Failure  to  timely  provide  the  medical
 34        examiner's  materials  shall  be a basis for vacating and rescheduling the
 35        hearing or for excluding the evidence in the discretion of the evaluator;
 36        (d)  The parties may submit requests for admission to one another pursuant
 37        to the Idaho rules of civil procedure.
 38        (2)  The conclusions and foundations therefore of any expert opinion  tes-
 39    timony  that  a party intends to offer at the evaluation shall be submitted in
 40    writing to the opposing party no later than twenty-one (21) days prior to  the
 41    evaluation.  Medical  records  are  deemed to fulfill the requirements of this
 42    subsection. If the opposing party concludes that it needs to take the expert's
 43    deposition and the parties cannot reach agreement to do so, the written report
 44    shall be submitted to the evaluator who, after hearing  the  opposing  party's
 45    reasons  for  requesting  the  deposition,  may  order  it  to go forward. The
 46    evaluator's determination that such discovery will occur  shall  be  based  on
 47    whether it is necessary to obtain a fair determination of the case. If a party
 48    wishes  to  offer  the live testimony of any expert witness at the evaluation,
 49    notice of the intent to do so must be given to the other parties no later than
 50    twenty-one (21) days prior to the evaluation and the  opposing  parties  shall
 51    have the right to depose the expert before the evaluation is conducted.
 52        (3)  No  additional  discovery shall be due or obtained for the purpose of
 53    the evaluation unless the parties  stipulate  thereto  or  the  evaluator  has
 54    ordered  otherwise  based on the evaluator's determination that such discovery
                                                                        
                                           6
                                                                        
  1    is necessary to obtain a fair, swift and cost-effective determination  of  the
  2    case.
  3        (4)  Costs  of  all  depositions, including fees for expert testimony, and
  4    medical examinations shall be paid by the party requesting the examination  or
  5    testimony.
                                                                        
  6        7-1508.  PREHEARING  AND  HEARING  PROCEDURES. (1) The evaluator shall set
  7    the time and place of the evaluation hearing and shall give reasonable  notice
  8    of  the  hearing  to the parties. The parties may agree to hold the hearing by
  9    telephone. Except by stipulation among the parties and the evaluator,  or  for
 10    good  cause shown, the hearing shall be scheduled to take place no sooner than
 11    twenty-eight  (28) days, nor later than seventy (70) days, from  the  date  of
 12    the  assignment  of  the  case to the evaluator. If a case will be heard later
 13    than seventy (70) days from the date of assignment, the evaluator shall file a
 14    notice with the trial court providing reasons for the delay and informing  the
 15    court of the date of the hearing.
 16        (2)  Except  for  good  cause  shown,  no party shall be allowed more than
 17    three (3) hours for presentation of its case at an evaluation hearing.
 18        (3)  Counsel for the parties and the evaluator may issue subpoenas for the
 19    hearing in the manner provided in the Idaho rules of civil procedure.
 20        (4)  At least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the evaluation, each
 21    party shall file with the  evaluator  and  serve  upon  all  other  parties  a
 22    prehearing  statement containing a list of witnesses the party intends to call
 23    at the evaluation hearing and a list of exhibits and  documentary  evidence  a
 24    party  intends  to  utilize at the hearing. The document will identify whether
 25    the testimony shall be live, presented in a sworn writing, or taken  by  tele-
 26    phone.  Upon request, all written and other tangible evidence identified shall
 27    be made available for the opposing party's inspection  and  copying  at  least
 28    seven  (7)  days prior to the hearing date. The evaluator shall have the right
 29    to exclude any evidence not provided in compliance with this section.
 30        (5)  The evaluator shall control the mode and  order  of  proof  with  the
 31    objectives of making the presentation of evidence effective for the ascertain-
 32    ment of facts, avoiding the needless consumption of time, protecting witnesses
 33    from  harassment  and  undue  embarrassment, and ensuring the fair, swift, and
 34    cost-effective determination of the case. Witnesses shall testify  under  oath
 35    administered  by the evaluator with the full penalty of law to apply to viola-
 36    tion of that oath. The evaluator may allow testimony  by  telephone  or  other
 37    nontraditional  means. The evaluator may question any witness. A party has the
 38    right to cross-examine any other party  and  any  witness  called  by  another
 39    party.
 40        (6)  The  hearing  may  be recorded electronically upon the request of any
 41    party, the cost to be borne by that party.
 42        (7)  Proceedings shall be under the control of the evaluator and as infor-
 43    mal as practicable. The extent to which the formal rules of evidence  will  be
 44    applied  shall  rest  in the discretion of the evaluator. To the extent deter-
 45    mined applicable, the evaluator shall construe those rules liberally in  order
 46    to effectuate a fair, swift and cost-efficient procedure. Expert opinion  tes-
 47    timony shall only be allowed if the conclusions and foundations therefore were
 48    appropriately disclosed and, if offered live, subjected to the opportunity for
 49    deposition pursuant to section 7-1507(2), Idaho Code, and otherwise admissible
 50    under the Idaho rules of evidence.
 51        (8)  To effectuate the fair, swift and cost-efficient nature of the evalu-
 52    ation,  the  following  documents shall be presumed admissible and may be pro-
 53    vided to the evaluator prior to the hearing, provided the documents  are  dis-
 54    closed  in the prehearing statement and, where relevant, the name, address and
                                                                        
                                           7
                                                                        
  1    telephone number of the author of the document is contained in the document or
  2    set forth in the prehearing statement:
  3        (a)  Any written contract between the parties;
  4        (b)  A copy of any billing statement or invoice  prepared  in  the  normal
  5        course of business;
  6        (c)  Copies of any correspondence between the parties;
  7        (d)  Any  document that would be admissible under rule 803(6) of the Idaho
  8        rules of evidence;
  9        (e)  A bill, report, chart, or record of a hospital, doctor, dentist, reg-
 10        istered nurse, licensed practical nurse, physical therapist,  psychologist
 11        or  other  health care provider, on a letterhead, or billhead or otherwise
 12        clearly identifiable as part of the provider's professional record;
 13        (f)  A bill for drugs, medical appliances or  other  related  expenses  on
 14        letterhead,  or  billhead  or  otherwise clearly identifiable as part of a
 15        provider's professional record;
 16        (g)  A bill for, or estimate of, property damage or loss on  a  letterhead
 17        or  billhead.  In the case of an estimate, the offering party shall notify
 18        the adverse party no later than, as  part  of  the  prehearing  statement,
 19        whether  the  property  was  repaired,  in full or in part and provide the
 20        actual bill showing the cost of repairs;
 21        (h)  A police, weather, or wage loss report or  standard  life  expectancy
 22        table to the extent it is relevant without need for authentication;
 23        (i)  A  photograph,  videotape, x-ray, drawing, map, blueprint, or similar
 24        evidence to the extent it is relevant without the need for authentication;
 25        (j)  The written statement of any witness made as part of a police  inves-
 26        tigation;
 27        (k)  The  written  statement of any witness, including a written report of
 28        any expert witness that contains a statement of opinion  based  on  proper
 29        qualifications which the witness would be allowed to express if testifying
 30        in person;
 31        (l)  A  document  not  specifically  covered  by  the foregoing but having
 32        equivalent circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness, the admission  of
 33        which  would  help in the swift, fair and cost-effective resolution of the
 34        dispute or otherwise serve the interests of justice.
 35        (9)  The admission of a document under subsection (8) of this section does
 36    not, in any manner, restrict argument or proof relating to the weight  of  the
 37    evidence  admitted,  nor does it limit the evaluator's discretion to determine
 38    the weight of the evidence after hearing all evidence and the arguments of the
 39    parties.
 40        (10) The evaluation hearing may proceed, and a decision may issue, in  the
 41    absence of any party who, after due notice, fails to participate or to  obtain
 42    a   continuance. Continuances shall only be granted for good cause and for the
 43    shortest practicable time. If a party is absent, the evaluator may permit  any
 44    party  present  to submit evidence supporting such present party's position in
 45    the case. In a case involving more than one (1) defendant, the  absence  of  a
 46    defendant  shall  not  preclude  the  evaluator  from assessing as part of the
 47    award, damages against  the  defendant  or  defendants  who  are  absent.  The
 48    evaluator,  for  good cause shown, may allow an absent party an opportunity to
 49    appear at a subsequent hearing before making an award. A party  who  fails  to
 50    participate in the hearing or prehearing process without good cause waives the
 51    right  to a trial de novo. If it is shown to the trial court by clear and con-
 52    vincing evidence that a party or its counsel has not acted in good faith  dur-
 53    ing  the  evaluation,  the  trial  court  may  impose any appropriate sanction
 54    against such party or its counsel.
                                                                        
                                           8
                                                                        
  1        7-1509.  EVALUATION DECISION AND AWARD -- APPEALS -- TRIAL DE NOVO -- MIS-
  2    CELLANEOUS. (1) Within  fourteen  (14)  days  following  the  evaluation,  the
  3    evaluator  shall  issue a written, signed decision. The evaluator shall deter-
  4    mine all issues raised by the pleadings, including  a  determination   of  any
  5    damages.  The  evaluator shall apply the applicable law as it exists; however,
  6    neither findings of fact nor conclusions of law shall be required.  The  deci-
  7    sion  and  award  shall  be  served on the parties. The evaluator shall file a
  8    notice of issuance of the evaluator's decision with the clerk  of  the  court,
  9    together  with proof of service of the notice and the decision on the parties.
 10    The decision and award shall not be filed with the  clerk  of  the  court.  No
 11    evaluator's award shall exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in total
 12    damages  to  a party. No evaluator's award shall include exemplary or punitive
 13    damages. An evaluator may, in addition, award costs and attorney's fees  under
 14    the terms of an applicable contract.
 15        (2)  Within  twenty  (20)  days  after  the  notice  of  issuance  of  the
 16    evaluator's    decision  has been filed with the clerk of the court, any party
 17    may file with the clerk a written notice of appeal and request for a trial  de
 18    novo  in the district court on all issues of law and fact. Within twenty-eight
 19    (28) days after the request for a trial de novo  has  been  filed,  the  court
 20    shall issue a scheduling order or hold a scheduling conference pursuant to the
 21    Idaho rules of civil procedure.
 22        (3)  The  trial  de  novo  shall  proceed  as  if  the  evaluation had not
 23    occurred. No reference to the evaluation or to the amount  of  the  evaluation
 24    award  shall  be  made  to  the trial court or the jury during any part of the
 25    trial de novo. Discovery taken and statements made during the evaluation proc-
 26    ess may be used at the trial de novo as provided in the Idaho rules  of  civil
 27    procedure and the Idaho rules of evidence; however, no reference shall be made
 28    to  the fact that any statement was made in an evaluation proceeding. Any dol-
 29    lar amount sought, demanded or awarded during the  evaluation,  including  the
 30    parties'  agreement  that for the purposes of the evaluation the claim is lim-
 31    ited to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), shall be treated as  an  offer
 32    of  compromise pursuant to the Idaho rules of evidence and shall not be admis-
 33    sible at trial. Any examination made pursuant to  the  provisions  of  section
 34    7-1507(1)(c),  Idaho  Code,  shall be subject to rule 35 of the Idaho rules of
 35    civil procedure. Any violation of the provisions of this subsection by a party
 36    or its representatives shall be subject to appropriate sanctions by the  trial
 37    court.
 38        (4)  The  relief  sought  at trial shall not be limited by the evaluation;
 39    provided however, that judgment for damages of more than twenty-five  thousand
 40    dollars ($25,000), exclusive of costs and fees, may not be entered for a party
 41    who  has  agreed  that  its claim does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars
 42    ($25,000) for the purposes of initiating alternative dispute resolution  under
 43    this chapter and shall be reduced by the court unless the claimant establishes
 44    the applicability of the factors of rule 60 of the Idaho rules of civil proce-
 45    dure. An evaluator may not be called as a witness at the trial de novo.
 46        (5)  The  trial  court  shall  assess costs and reasonable attorney's fees
 47    against a party who appeals from an evaluation award and fails to improve  its
 48    position at the trial de novo by at least fifteen percent (15%).
 49        (6)  Up  to  forty-five  (45)  days  following the filing of the notice of
 50    issuance of the evaluator's  decision,  a  party  may  serve  upon  the  other
 51    party(ies)  a  written  offer  of compromise. If an offer of compromise is not
 52    accepted by the other party(ies) within ten (10) days after  service  thereof,
 53    the  amount  used  for determining whether the party appealing the evaluator's
 54    award has improved its position shall be the amount of the  offer  of  compro-
 55    mise.  Neither  the  evaluator's decision nor the offer of compromise shall be
                                                                        
                                           9
                                                                        
  1    submitted to the trial court until the verdict or judgment has  been  rendered
  2    in the trial de novo.
  3        (7)  The  trial  court  may  assess  some  or  all  costs  and  reasonable
  4    attorney's  fees against a party who withdraws its request for a trial de novo
  5    where the withdrawal is not in conjunction with the acceptance of an offer  of
  6    compromise.
  7        (8)  For  the  purposes  of  this section "costs and reasonable attorney's
  8    fees" means all those provided for by statute or rule as well  as  all  expert
  9    witness fees and other expenses the court finds were reasonably incurred after
 10    the appeal from the evaluation award was filed.
 11        (9)  If no appeal has been filed at the expiration of twenty-one (21) days
 12    following  the filing of the evaluator's notice of decision, a judgment may be
 13    presented to the court by any party accompanied by a copy of  the  evaluator's
 14    award. If the judgment is in conformity with the evaluator's award it shall be
 15    entered  and  shall  have the same force and effect as any other judgment in a
 16    civil action but shall not be subject to appellate review and may only be  set
 17    aside pursuant to the provisions of rule 60 of the Idaho rules of civil proce-
 18    dure.
 19        (10) Witness fees and other costs provided for by statute or court rule in
 20    district  court  proceedings shall be awarded by the court upon entry of judg-
 21    ment to the same extent and in the same manner as if the hearing had been held
 22    in court.
 23        (11) The provisions of this chapter do not affect or preclude the applica-
 24    tion of any other statute or rule regarding fees or costs including,  but  not
 25    limited  to,  those in title 7 or 12, Idaho Code, section 41-1839, Idaho Code,
 26    or the Idaho rules of civil procedure. Awards of  damages  and  of  attorney's
 27    fees  and  costs,  when made to opposing parties, shall be set off against one
 28    another and judgment shall be entered for the net  amount  to  the  party(ies)
 29    entitled thereto.
 30        (12) An  evaluator  may  obtain  a  judgment for his fees and costs in the
 31    pending litigation against any party that refuses to pay its  share.  Judgment
 32    shall  be  obtained  by  motion to the trial court which shall only be granted
 33    after the party failing to pay has had the opportunity to be heard and object.
                                                                        
 34        7-1510.  RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. The intent of this chapter is to maintain
 35    the right to a jury trial and the provisions of this  statute  shall  be  con-
 36    strued to uphold that right.
                                                                        
 37        7-1511.  SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this chapter or its application
 38    to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter or
 39    the  application  of  the  provision  to other persons or circumstances is not
 40    affected.
                                                                        
 41        7-1512.  STATISTICAL RECORDS -- COMPILATION OF  EVALUATOR  LIST.  (1)  The
 42    supreme  court  shall  keep  statistical records of the number of requests for
 43    evaluation filed pursuant to the provisions of this  chapter,  the  number  of
 44    appeals  from  evaluation awards hereunder, the number of instances in which a
 45    party improves its position by at least fifteen percent (15%) on appeal.
 46        (2)  Commencing no later than July 1, 2002, the supreme court shall  begin
 47    compiling  the  names  of  individuals  desiring  to serve as civil litigation
 48    evaluators in each judicial district.
                                                                        
 49        SECTION 2.  This act shall be in full force and effect on and after  Janu-
 50    ary  1,  2003,  and  shall apply to all cases for which initial complaints are
 51    filed on or after January 1, 2003. This act shall be  null,  void  and  of  no
                                                                        
                                           10
                                                                        
  1    force  and effect on and after June 30, 2006, provided, however, that the pro-
  2    visions of the act shall continue to apply to all applicable  cases  in  which
  3    initial complaints are filed on or before June 30, 2006.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                            RS 12023

This legislation is intended to reduce the cost of litigation and
speed the resolution of conflicts that have resulted in a lawsuit
if the damages sought are $25,000 or less.  It provides for
independent case evaluations based on a review of the evidence by
impartial evaluators.  Once a case has been through the
evaluation process any party, if dissatisfied with the results,
may still proceed to trial without mention of the evaluation
process.  However, if the dissatisfied party fails to improve its
position by 15% or more at trial, it will be required to pay the
other side's attorney's fees and costs.

The legislation is designed to apply to smaller claims for money
damages and is based on a system that has been used in other
states with a number of years experience.  It has resulted in the
reduction of court caseloads and faster resolution of lawsuits.

                         FISCAL NOTE

This legislation should have a positive impact on the state
General Fund by reducing court caseloads, relieving courts,
judges, clerks and other court personnel of time spent on the
cases settled by this evaluation procedure.

Contact:
Name: Rep Leon Smith   
      Sen Bart Davis
Phone: 332-1000


STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                Bill No.627