2001 -- S 0247

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LC01229
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S  T  A  T  E     O  F     R  H  O  D  E     I  S  L  A  N  D    

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2001

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S  E  N  A  T  E     R  E  S  O  L  U  T  I  O  N

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- WRONGFUL DEATH

Introduced By:  Senators DaPonte, Coderre, Igliozzi, Felag and Celona

Date Introduced:  February 6, 2001 Referred To:  Committee on Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 10-7-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 10-7 entitled "Death By Wrongful Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

10-7-1.1. Pecuniary damages -- How determined. -- Pecuniary damages to the beneficiaries described under section 10-7-2 and recoverable by the beneficiaries shall be ascertained as follows:

(1) Determine the gross amount of the decedent's prospective income or earnings over the remainder of his or her life expectancy, including all estimated income he or she would probably have earned by his or her own exertions, both physical and mental. Pecuniary damages shall include the value of homemaker services lost as a result of the death of a homemaker. The fair value of homemaker services shall not be limited to moneys actually expended to replace the services usually provided by the homemaker. In such a suit, the value of homemaker services may be shown by expert testimony, but expert testimony is not required. The value of the enjoyment of the life of the deceased shall also be determined and included in the amount of pecuniary damages.

(2) Deduct from the amount determined in subdivision (1) the estimated personal expenses that the decedent would probably have incurred for himself or herself, exclusive of any of his dependents, over the course of his or her life expectancy.

(3) Reduce the remainder thus ascertained to its present value as of the date of the award. In determining the award, evidence shall be admissible concerning economic trends, including but not limited to projected purchasing power of money, inflation, and projected increase or decrease in the costs of living.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01229
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF

S  E  N  A  T  E     R  E  S  O  L  U  T  I  O  N

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- WRONGFUL DEATH

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This act would include the value of the life of the deceased in the amount of pecuniary damages.

This act would take effect upon passage.

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