2025 -- H 5179
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LC000846
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY --
JUDGMENTS, ORDERS, AND DECREES
Introduced By: Representative Alex S. Finkelman
Date Introduced: January 24, 2025
Referred To: House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 9-21-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-21 entitled "Judgments, 1
Orders, and Decrees" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
9-21-10. Interest in civil actions. 3
(a) In any civil action in which a verdict is rendered or a decision made for pecuniary 4
damages, there shall be added by the clerk of the court to the amount of damages interest at the rate 5
of twelve percent (12%) per annum thereon from the date the cause of action accrued of the filing 6
of the civil action calculated at a rate equal to the coupon issue yield equivalent, as determined by 7
the United States secretary of the treasury, of the average accepted auction price for the last auction 8
of fifty-two (52) week United States treasury bills settled immediately preceding the date of the 9
filing of the action, which shall be included in the judgment entered therein. Post-judgment interest 10
shall be calculated at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum and accrue on both the principal 11
amount of the judgment and the prejudgment interest entered therein a rate equal to the coupon 12
issue yield equivalent, as determined by the United States secretary of the treasury, of the average 13
accepted auction price for the last auction of fifty-two (52) week United States treasury bills settled 14
immediately preceding the date of the filing of the action. This section shall not apply until entry 15
of judgment or to any contractual obligation where interest is already provided. 16
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply in any action filed on or after January 1, 1987, for 17
personal injury or wrongful death filed against a licensed physician, hospital, clinic, health 18
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maintenance organization, professional service corporation providing health care services, dentist, 1
or dental hygienist based on professional negligence. In all such medical malpractice actions in 2
which a verdict is rendered or a decision made for pecuniary damages, there shall be added by the 3
clerk of the court to the amount of damages interest at the rate of twelve percent (12%) per annum 4
thereon from the date of written notice of the claim by the claimant or his or her representative to 5
the malpractice liability insurer, or to the medical or dental health care provider or the filing of the 6
civil action, whichever first occurs. 7
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 8
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALL Y --
JUDGMENTS, ORDERS, AND DECREES
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This act would amend the calculations of interest in civil actions and provide that the 1
interest would be calculated a rate equal to the coupon issue yield equivalent, as determined by the 2
United States secretary of the treasury, of the average accepted auction price for the last auction of 3
fifty-two (52) week United States treasury bills settled immediately preceding the date of the filing 4
of the action. 5
This act would take effect upon passage. 6
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LC000846
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