SB 69 - This act establishes procedures for a claimant in a civil action for damages due to asbestos exposure to disclose claims the claimant has filed with an asbestos trust. An asbestos trust is defined in the act as a government or court approved trust, qualified settlement fund, compensation fund, or claims facility created as a result of an administrative action, legal action, court-approved bankruptcy, or law that is intended to provide compensation to people who have experienced health effects due to asbestos exposure.
DOCUMENT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS (SECTION 537.882)
Within thirty days of filing a civil action for damages due to health effects that resulted from the exposure to asbestos, or within thirty days of the effective date of this act for currently pending asbestos actions, a claimant shall provide the court and other parties the following documents:
1. A sworn statement stating that an investigation has been conducted and the claimant has filed all available asbestos trust claims, and providing the status and disposition of each asbestos trust claim;
2. All trust claim materials, as defined in the act, which shall include materials that relate to other conditions and materials from all law firms connected to the claimant in relation to exposure to asbestos; and
3. All available trust claims filed by any individual, other than the claimant, if the claimant's asbestos action is based on exposure through that individual and the materials are available to the claimant or the claimant's counsel.
The claimant must continually supplement or amend the above-required information and documents given to the court and other parties as stipulated in the act.
PROCESS FOR FAILURE TO FILE ALL TRUST CLAIMS (SECTION 537.884)
Not less than 60 days before trial in an asbestos action, if the defendant believes the claimant has not filed all the available asbestos trust claims, the defendant may file a motion with the court requesting the court to require the claimant to file additional trust claims.
Within ten days after receiving the defendant's motion, the claimant can then either file the asbestos trust claims and produce the related trust claims materials or file a response with the court stating why there is insufficient evidence for the claimant to file the asbestos trust claims. The court shall make a determination within ten days of the claimant's response. If the court finds that there is a sufficient basis for the claimant to file the additional asbestos trust claim, the court shall stay the asbestos action until the claimant files the claim and produces the related trust claim materials.
An asbestos action shall not be set for trial until at least forty-five days after the claimant has produced the additional trust claim materials.
DISCOVERY AND ADMISSIBILITY OF TRUST CLAIM MATERIALS AND TRUST GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS (SECTION 537.886 AND 537.888)
Trust claim materials and trust governance documents are admissible in evidence and are presumed to be relevant and authentic. No claims of privilege apply to trust claim materials and trust governance documents. Additionally, a defendant may seek discovery against an asbestos trust, and the claimant cannot claim privilege or confidentiality in order to prohibit discovery of such materials. The claimant shall provide consent to release the trust information and materials requested by the defendant.
Trust claim materials that are sufficient to entitle a claim for payment under the applicable trust governance documents may support a jury finding that the claimant was exposed to products for which the trust was established to provide compensation and that such exposure was a substantial contributing factor in causing the claimant's injury.
Any trust claim materials or trust governance documents may be introduced at trial to prove issues relevant to the adjudication of the asbestos claim, including alternative causation of the injury or that an entity is a joint-tortfeasor, unless otherwise excluded by the rules of evidence. The jury shall not be informed of the amount of consideration paid by a trust to a claimant to settle a claim.
If the claimant has asbestos trust claims that have not been resolved at the time of trial, there is a rebuttable presumption that the claimant will receive compensation specified in the applicable trust governance documents. If allowed by law, the defendant may be entitled to a setoff or credit in the amount the claimant has been awarded or presumed to be awarded from an asbestos trust.
FILING OF ADDITIONAL ASBESTOS TRUST CLAIMS (SECTION 537.890)
After obtaining a judgment in an asbestos action, if a claimant files any additional asbestos trust claim with, or submits any additional asbestos trust claim to, an asbestos trust that was in existence at the time the claimant obtained the judgment, the trial court, upon the filing by defendant or judgment debtor of an appropriate motion seeking sanctions or other relief, has jurisdiction to reopen the judgment in the asbestos action and adjust the judgment by the amount of any subsequent asbestos trust payments obtained by the claimant and order any other relief that the court considers just and proper.
COURT SANCTIONS (SECTION 537.882.3)
A court is permitted to impose sanctions for any willful failure by a claimant or claimant's counsel to comply with the requirements of this act, including dismissal of the action with prejudice.
This act is substantially similar to HB 216 (2019) and similar to provisions in SCS/SB 1102 (2018), HCS/HB 1645 (2018), SB 347 (2017), and HB 333 (2017).
KATIE O'BRIEN