Despite an adopted amendment in the Senate, pressure in the House is key to ensure cities aren’t subject to prejudgment interest.

SB 5155 would allow interest on judgments for tortious conduct to begin accruing from the date on which a person suffers an injury or loss. This means interest would start to accrue before a claim was filed and before a party was made aware of the injury or loss. As we wrote a few weeks ago, an adopted amendment to SB 5155, proposed by Sen. Shelley Short (R–Addy), removes public agencies from being subject to prejudgment interest.

Sen. Short’s amendment was a huge win for cities; however, as the bill moves into the House, we need to continue messaging legislators encouraging them to maintain the amendment. Remind them that:

• Courts are already overburdened; sometimes it can take years for a case to come to trial. This bill will penalize defendants for timelines outside of their control.
• This bill creates additional financial incentives for parties to delay filing a cause of action and for trial attorneys to file additional claims.
• Public funds used in settlements and legal penalties are funds that are taken away from other valuable services that Washington residents rely on in their day-to-day lives.

We appreciate your continued support on this issue.

Dates to remember

SB 5155 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on February 16 at 10 am. It is then scheduled for executive action in the same committee on February 18 at 8 am.