| Chapter 151 |
| 2023 -- H 5438 Enacted 06/20/2023 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION |
Introduced By: Representative Jason Knight |
| Date Introduced: February 08, 2023 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 9-1-50 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-1 entitled "Causes of |
| Action" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 9-1-50. Settled claims not paid within thirty (30) days. |
| (a) Whenever any claim is settled, the insurance company, adjusting company, or any other |
| person, firm, or corporation responsible for paying the settlement shall make payment within thirty |
| (30) days from the date the claimant or his or her the claimant’s attorney sends the release. The |
| signed release may be transmitted to the party responsible for paying the settlement or their attorney |
| in electronic format. Failure to make payment within thirty (30) days shall raise a presumption that |
| failure to do so was a willful and wanton disregard for the rights of the claimant. In addition to all |
| other remedies, the payor shall be liable to the claimant in a separate cause of action for punitive |
| damages and interest which shall be computed at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum from |
| the date the cause of action giving rise to the settlement occurred until the judgment on the claim |
| brought pursuant to this section is entered. |
| (b) Any claim brought under the provisions of this section shall be given a priority on the |
| trial calendar. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC001009 |
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