Current Status Bill Number:3847 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19950322 Primary Sponsor:Cromer All Sponsors:Cromer Drafted Document Number:bbm\9882jm.95 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Property damage liability claims
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19950322 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND SECTION 38-77-710, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE LAW AND THE APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEYS AS ARBITRATORS TO HEAR AND DETERMINE PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY CLAIMS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COST FOR HEARING AND DETERMINING SUCH CLAIMS BY ARBITRATION SHALL BE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS, TO BE PAID BY THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE CLAIM.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 38-77-710 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 38-77-710. The Court of Common Pleas, or any inferior courts having concurrent jurisdiction, in and for each county, shall by order of reference appoint an attorney or attorneys to hear and determine, by arbitration, property damage liability claims arising out of motor vehicle collisions or accidents and to award actual and punitive damages. This order must be consistent with the provisions of this chapter and may not be inconsistent with the Rules of the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Process and procedure must be as summary and simple as may be reasonable and may provide for the taking of evidence in the form of reports, statements, or itemized bills or in any other manner without the procedural and evidentiary limitations which pertain in jury trials. The court may provide for the taking of depositions of a witness within or without the State. The cost for hearing and determining such property damage liability claims by arbitration shall be one hundred fifty dollars, to be paid by the parties involved in the claim."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.