Senate considers bill to reduce government tort liability

Sen. Dino Rossi (R-Sammamish) has sponsored SB 5896 which would reduce state and local government liability in numerous ways. The bill would cap non-economic damages at $1.5 million per claimant, change when interest starts to accrue, and cap attorney fees at 33 percent of an award. The bill has yet to pass out of the Senate, but the Senate budget does include fiscal impacts that the bill would create, so the bill will most likely continue to be relevant. AWC is continuing to monitor the progress of the bill.