Connecticut House Bill HB06889

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/17
• Refer: 1/25/17

Caption

An Act Concerning Municipal Liability For Gross Negligence Committed By Municipal Employees.

Impact

The proposed legislation is designed to allow victims of gross negligence to recover actual monetary damages, thereby incentivizing accountability among municipal employees. By extending the statute of limitations, the bill seeks to empower victims who may have been previously unable to pursue claims within the existing two-year timeframe. This could lead to increased scrutiny of municipal activities and encourage municipalities to improve their employee training and oversight to mitigate instances of gross negligence.

Summary

House Bill 6889 aims to address the issue of municipal liability concerning gross negligence committed by municipal employees. The bill proposes extending the statute of limitations for claims of gross negligence from two years to ten years. This change would provide victims of such negligence a longer time frame to file their claims, enabling more individuals to seek redress for injuries or damages resulting from municipal employee conduct that falls under gross negligence.

Contention

Notably, the bill may face pushback from municipal governments concerned about potential increases in liability claims and insurance costs. Critics might argue that extending the statute of limitations could result in unpredictable financial burdens for municipalities, especially in cases that surface long after the alleged negligence has occurred. Balancing the need for accountability with the financial implications for local government entities is likely to be a point of contention during discussions of HB 6889.