Multiple Punitive Damages Fairness Act of 1997

Summary

Multiple Punitive Damages Fairness Act of 1997 - Prohibits punitive damages in any civil action in State or Federal court in which such damages are sought against a defendant based on the same act or course of conduct for which punitive damages have already been sought or awarded against such defendant. Permits the court to award such punitive damages, subject to specified limitations, upon determining in a pretrial hearing that the claimant will offer new and substantial evidence of previously undiscovered, additional wrongful behavior on the part of the defendant, other than the injury to the claimant. Directs a court awarding punitive damages pursuant to such provision to: (1) make specific findings of fact on the record to support the award; (2) reduce the amount of the punitive portion of the damage award by the sum of the amounts of punitive damages previously paid by the defendant in prior actions based on the same act or course of conduct; and (3) prohibit disclosure to the jury of the court's determination and action. Makes this Act inapplicable to any civil action involving damages awarded under any Federal or State statute that prescribes the precise amount of punitive damages to be awarded.

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Timeline

1. 21 January 1997

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 21 January 1997

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S454)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 21 January 1997

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 21 January 1997 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 21 January 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 21 January 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 21 January 1997

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Thomas, Craig [R-WY-At Large] · R · Sponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing

Related records

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