We posted before about the legislative effort in Wisconsin to level the asbestos playing field with regard to claims against asbestos trusts and remaining solvent defendants.  Earlier this month the state Senate passed a version of the bill that would require plaintiffs in asbestos personal injury actions to disclose whether they have filed a claim against any personal injury trust.

This week, the Wisconsin Assembly passed the bill (A.B.19), a version that will also create a setoff for defendants of the amount recovered from the trust.  The bill now goes to Gov. Scott Walker (R) for approval.  Published reports suggest the governor will sign the measure.

A.B. 19 imposes a series of new requirements in asbestos-related claims, including:

(a) the plaintiff shall provide to all parties a sworn statement identifying each personal injury claim he or she has filed or reasonably anticipates filing against an asbestos trust, including the amount claimed by the plaintiff, the date that the plaintiff filed the claim, the disposition of the claim and whether there has been a request to defer, delay, suspend, or toll the claim against the asbestos trust.
(b) For each personal injury claim he or she has filed against an asbestos trust, plaintiff shall provide a copy of the final executed proof of claim, all trust documents, including trust claims materials, trust governance documents, any documents reflecting the current status of the claim and, if the claim is settled, all documents relating to the settlement of the claim.
(c)  Trust claims materials and trust governance documents are admissible in evidence. No claims of privilege apply to trust claims materials or trust governance documents.
(d) Trust claim materials that are sufficient to entitle a claim to consideration for payment under the applicable trust governance documents may be sufficient to support a jury finding that the plaintiff may have been exposed to products for which the trust was established to provide compensation and that such exposure may be a substantial factor in causing the plaintiff’s injury that is at issue in the action.
(e) If a verdict is entered in favor of the plaintiff in an action subject to this section and the defendant is found to be 51 percent or more causally negligent or responsible for the plaintiff’s entire damages, the plaintiff may not collect any amount of damages until after the plaintiff assigns to the defendant all pending, current, and future rights or claims he or she has or may have for a personal injury claim against an asbestos trust.

UPDATE- The governor signed the bill. (reminder check our disclaimer page, we don’t always update posts!)