California is poised to join 45 other states—at least temporarily—that allow the heirs of plaintiffs who die with pending pain-and-suffering claims to pursue those damages.

Senate Bill 447, co-sponsored by the Consumer Attorneys of California, would open a litigation path for successors of victims with claims that have accrued by Jan. 1, 2026. Backers of the legislation say it would end a “perverse” incentive for defendants to drag out personal injury litigation with terminally ill plaintiffs.

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]