Bill H.543, introduced by Representative Goodnow of Brattleboro, aims to amend current negligence law in Vermont by allowing a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to fulfill the requirement of demonstrating actual injury in negligence actions. This legislation seeks to overrule the Vermont Supreme Court's decision in Zeno-Etheridge v. Comcast Corp., which established that plaintiffs must show actual injury beyond just a diagnosis of PTSD to succeed in their claims.

The bill proposes the addition of a new section, 12 V.S.A. 1036a, which explicitly states that in any civil action, a diagnosis of PTSD can satisfy the element of actual injury required in negligence claims. The act is intended to take effect immediately upon passage, thereby providing a clearer pathway for individuals suffering from PTSD to seek redress in negligence cases.