On June 9, 2011, Governor Bentley signed into law a comprehensive tort reform package. Included in the package were these bills:
Senate Bill 184 prohibits product liability actions against retailers, wholesalers, and other distributors if they are not the manufacturer of the product and did not cause any defect in the product. The bill protects against “innocent conduit” situations. This bill will be codified at Alabama Code §§ 6-5-501 and 6-5-521, and it is effective immediately.
Senate Bill 212 provides that a wrongful death action may be filed only in a county where the deceased, if living, could have filed a civil action. This bill will be codified at Alabama Code § 6-5-410, and it is effective immediately.
Senate Bill 187 adopts the federal standard, the so-called Daubert standard, for the admissibility of expert witness testimony. This bill will be codified at Alabama Code § 12-21-160, and it will apply to actions commenced on or after January 1, 2012.
Senate Bill 207 lowers the post-judgment interest rate from 12 percent to 7.5 percent. This bill will be codified at Alabama Code § 8-8-10, and it will apply all judgments entered on or after September 1, 2011.
Senate Bill 59 decreases the statute of repose for commencing a civil action against an architect, engineer, or builder from 13 years to 7 years. This bill will be codified at Alabama Code §§ 6-5-221, 6-5-222, 6-5-225, and 6-5-227, and it will take effect on September 1, 2011.
Finally….Alabama Makes the Change from Frye to Daubert