Get Involved
House-Passed Legal Reform Bill Finally Gets Its Senate Hearing
The bill is another instrument aimed at improving transparency and credibility in Louisiana courtrooms. In civil proceedings (excluding criminal, traffic and juvenile cases), a witness with a direct financial interest in the outcome of a case generally cannot be qualified as an expert. The bill defines this “pecuniary interest” as a monetary stake tied to a settlement or damages award.
The legislation also expands expert disclosure requirements. In addition to existing expert report rules, parties would be required to disclose prior cases in which an expert witness had a financial interest in the outcome, including the case name and the nature and value of compensation received.
This issue reflects a broader national conversation about the role of expert witnesses in civil litigation. While experts are commonly compensated for their time and expertise, concerns have grown in some jurisdictions about the appearance of bias when compensation is tied directly to case outcomes. Most states currently rely on disclosure and cross-examination to address these concerns, but there is a growing push to strengthen transparency and reinforce confidence that expert testimony is based on professional expertise rather than financial incentives tied to litigation results.
HB 437 aligns with that broader trend by tightening disclosure requirements and clarifying when financial interest may disqualify an expert in civil proceedings.
In the waning days of the legislative session, LABI is also urging Senate leadership to schedule a hearing for another House-passed legal reform bill: HB 1089 by Rep. Dennis Bamburg (R-Bossier City).
The legislation tackles how future medical awards are handled after a lawsuit and reflects a continued focus by LABI on bringing greater accountability and long-term sustainability to Louisiana’s legal system. The bill creates CARE Accounts—dedicated, money-market-style accounts designed specifically to support an injured person’s medical needs for the rest of their life by paying for care when necessary.
Under the proposal, future medical awards would be deposited into CARE Accounts and limited to qualified medical expenses, helping ensure funds remain available throughout a claimant’s lifetime. The intent is straightforward: medical awards should be used for actual future medical care, as needed, to protect injured parties and ensure they have resources necessary to obtain care. Importantly, the bill does not affect awards for pain and suffering or lost future earnings.
By ensuring medical awards are used only for legitimate expenses and only as they arise, the approach helps limit costs to what is actually needed and used. When insurers are able to recover even a portion of funds that would otherwise go unused, those dollars flow back into the broader insurance pool—helping reduce pressure on long-term insurance costs while still protecting lifetime access to care.