LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: SCR 16 SLS 201ES 183
Bill Text Version: ORIGINAL
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: June 17, 2020 8:18 AM Author: MILLS, ROBERT
Dept./Agy.: Office of Risk Mgmt/Attorney General/Supreme Court
Subject: Jury Threshold Analyst: Rebecca Robinson
COURTS OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX Page 1 of 1
Suspends certain provisions of law relative to the jury trial threshold. (Item #40)
Presently, the Code of Civil Procedure Article 1732(A)(1) provides that a jury trial is not available in suits where no individual
petitioner’s cause of action exceeds fifty thousand dollars exclusive of interests and costs. The concurrent resolution
proposes to suspend this provision of the Code of Civil Procedure from the adoption of the resolution through the 60th day
after final adjournment of the 2021 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
Effective August 1, 2020.
EXPENDITURES 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. SEE BELOW $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
REVENUES 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
There will be an indeterminable impact to the Office of Risk Management (ORM), the Louisiana Supreme Court (LSC), and
the Attorney General (AG) as a result of the suspension of the $50,0000 jury threshold. Note: It is unknown whether this
resolution would affect suits filed within the time frame or suits going to trial within the time frame of the resolution.
ORM reports an indeterminable impact associated with the suspension of the jury threshold as it is unknown whether this
would lead to an increase or decrease in jury trials; and/or an increase or decrease in settlements. ORM indicates that the
prevailing opinion is that defendants experience a greater opportunity for a fair trial before a jury. Thus, the expansion of
the availability of jury trials may lead to more settlement of cases involving significant injuries, possibly lowering the
expenditures of ORM. However, the suspension of the jury threshold could lead to an increase in jury trials actually
conducted, which would increase the expenditures of ORM due to increased attorney’s fees and associated litigation costs.
Therefore, any expenditure increase or decrease to ORM is indeterminable at this time.
The AG reports an indeterminable impact due to the suspension of the jury threshold. The AG may experience an increase
in expenditures due to increased costs to defend claims; however, they cannot identify a cost at this time.
The LSC reports an indeterminable impact. The suspension of the jury trial threshold could result in increased requests for
jury trials, which are docketed in a limited manner. As a result, the increased demand for jury trials may lead to a delay in
trials and backlogged dockets. However, the court cannot identify potential impacts at this time.
To the extent future legislation continues the change in the jury threshold, additional resources for both the AG and the
district courts may be required.
REVENUE EXPLANATION
There is no anticipated direct material effect on governmental revenues as a result of this measure.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee Evan Brasseaux
6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Staff Director