Bill > SB0176

This bill amends Utah's law regarding arbitration in personal injury cases involving dog attacks, primarily increasing the maximum arbitration award from $50,000 to $75,000 and clarifying several procedural details. The legislation allows an injured person to submit their bodily injury claim to binding arbitration under specific conditions, such as filing a complaint and a notice of arbitration within 14 days after the complaint is answered. The bill maintains existing provisions that limit recovery to insurance coverage and prevent punitive damages in arbitration, while also establishing detailed rules for the arbitration process, including how arbitrators are selected and how costs are shared. If either party is dissatisfied with the arbitration award, they can request a trial de novo (a new trial) within 20 days, but they face potential cost penalties if they do not substantially improve their outcome compared to the original arbitration award. The bill also explicitly excludes wrongful death actions from certain limitations and clarifies that costs associated with the trial are separate from the verdict amount. The amendments aim to provide a more streamlined and cost-efficient method for resolving dog attack injury claims, with the new provisions taking effect on May 7, 2025.

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https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0176.html