HB2277--SETTLEMENTDEMAND
SPONSOR: Hardwick
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
InsurancePolicybyavoteof10to4.
Thisbillreplacestheterm"time-limiteddemand"with"settlement
demand". Thebillspecifiesthat,inanylawsuitallegingdamages
outsideofwhatiscoveredinthecontractagainstthetort-
feasor'sliabilityinsurer,anypriorsettlementdemandtosettlea
claimwillnotbeconsideredtohavebeenareasonableopportunity
tosettletheclaimunlessthedemandwasinwriting,referenced
Section537.058,RSMo,wassentcertifiedmail,remainedopenfor
acceptancebytheliabilityinsurerforatleast90daysfromthe
datethedemandwasreceivedbytheinsurer,andcontainedcertain
materialterms,describedinthebill.
ThisbillisthesameasHB1009(2023).
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisaddsclaritysotheinsurance
companiesknowwhatisanacceptableformofsettlementofferand
howmuchtimetheyhavetomakeadecision. Thisalsoclosesa
loopholeattorneysareusingtonothavethesettlementdemand
provisionsapplytotheirdemandbynotputtingatimelimitonit.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Hardwick;
NationalAssociationofMutualInsuranceCompanies;Missouri
InsuranceCoalition;AssociatedIndustriesofMissouri;Missouri
AssociationofInsuranceAgents;AmericanPropertyCasualty
InsuranceAssociation,MissouriCivilJusticeReform;andthe
ShelterInsuranceCompany.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatthisisallowing
insurancecompaniestoputtheirbestinterestoverthepersonwho
washarmed.Italreadyrequiresalotofprooftoshowthatan
insurancecompanyisactinginbadfaith.Thisalsowouldrequire
youtowait90daysforeverydemand.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereBlakeMarkus;andKen
Barnes,MissouriAssociationofTrialAttorneys.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.