Bill Text: IL SB2948 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides limitations upon a nonexpert's opinion or inference testimony. Sets forth requirements regarding: qualifications, testimony, disclosure, and compensation of expert witnesses; bases of expert opinion testimony; limitations on expert testimony; pretrial hearings and disclosures concerning expert witnesses; precedents to be followed in interpreting the new provisions; interlocutory appeals of rulings on the admissibility of expert evidence; standards to be followed by reviewing courts in determining the admissibility of expert testimony; and severability. Provides that the new provisions apply to actions commenced on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and pending actions in which a trial has not been scheduled or in which a trial has been scheduled more than 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-19 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB2948 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2023-SB2948-Introduced.html
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | AN ACT concerning civil law.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | represented in the General Assembly:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | adding Part 30 to Article VIII as follows:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | (735 ILCS 5/Art. VIII Pt. 30 heading new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Part 30. Expert Testimony | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3001 new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | Sec. 8-3001. Opinion testimony by lay witnesses. If the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | witness is not testifying as an expert, the testimony of the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | witness in the form of opinions or inferences is limited to | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | those opinions or inferences that are: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | (1) rationally based on the perception of the witness; | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | (2) helpful to a clear understanding of the testimony | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | of the witness or the determination of a fact in issue; and | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | (3) not based on scientific, technical, or other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | specialized knowledge within the scope of Section 8-3003.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3002 new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | Sec. 8-3002. Testimony by experts. If scientific, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, | ||||||
2 | skill, experience, training, or education may testify in the | ||||||
3 | form of an opinion or otherwise, if: | ||||||
4 | (1) the testimony is based upon sufficient facts or | ||||||
5 | data; | ||||||
6 | (2) the testimony is the product of reliable | ||||||
7 | principles and methods; and | ||||||
8 | (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods | ||||||
9 | reliably to the facts of the case.
| ||||||
10 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3003 new) | ||||||
11 | Sec. 8-3003. Bases of expert opinion testimony. The facts | ||||||
12 | or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an | ||||||
13 | opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to | ||||||
14 | the expert at or before the hearing. If facts or data are of a | ||||||
15 | type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field | ||||||
16 | in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject, the facts | ||||||
17 | or data need not be admissible in evidence in order for the | ||||||
18 | opinion or inference to be admitted. Facts or data that are | ||||||
19 | otherwise inadmissible shall not be disclosed to the jury by | ||||||
20 | the proponent of the opinion or inference, unless the court | ||||||
21 | determines that the probative value in assisting the jury to | ||||||
22 | evaluate the expert's opinion substantially outweighs the | ||||||
23 | prejudicial effect.
| ||||||
24 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3004 new) |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | Sec. 8-3004. Bars to expert testimony. | ||||||
2 | (a) A witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, | ||||||
3 | experience, training, or education may offer expert testimony | ||||||
4 | only with respect to a particular field in which the expert is | ||||||
5 | qualified. | ||||||
6 | (b) An expert witness may receive a reasonable and | ||||||
7 | customary fee for the rendering of professional services; | ||||||
8 | however, the testimony of an expert witness shall not be | ||||||
9 | admitted if any compensation is contingent on the outcome of a | ||||||
10 | claim or case with respect to which the testimony is being | ||||||
11 | offered.
| ||||||
12 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3005 new) | ||||||
13 | Sec. 8-3005. Mandatory pretrial hearing. If the witness is | ||||||
14 | testifying as an expert, then upon motion of a party, the court | ||||||
15 | shall hold a pretrial hearing to determine whether the witness | ||||||
16 | qualifies as an expert and whether the expert's testimony | ||||||
17 | satisfies the requirements of Sections 8-3002, 8-3003, and | ||||||
18 | 8-3004. The court shall allow sufficient time for a hearing | ||||||
19 | and shall rule on the qualifications of the witness to testify | ||||||
20 | as an expert and whether the testimony satisfies the | ||||||
21 | requirements of Sections 8-3002, 8-3003, and 8-3004. The | ||||||
22 | hearing and ruling shall be completed no later than the final | ||||||
23 | pretrial hearing. The trial court's ruling shall set forth the | ||||||
24 | findings of fact and conclusions of law upon which the order to | ||||||
25 | admit or exclude expert evidence is based.
|
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3006 new) | ||||||
2 | Sec. 8-3006. Mandatory pretrial disclosure of expert | ||||||
3 | testimony. | ||||||
4 | (a) Regardless of whether any party elects to request a | ||||||
5 | pretrial hearing under Section 8-3005, each party shall | ||||||
6 | disclose to the other parties the identity of any person who | ||||||
7 | may be used at trial to present expert evidence. | ||||||
8 | (b) Except as otherwise stipulated or directed by the | ||||||
9 | court, disclosure under this Section shall, with respect to a | ||||||
10 | witness who is retained or specially employed to provide | ||||||
11 | expert testimony in the case or whose duties as an employee of | ||||||
12 | the party regularly involve giving expert testimony, be | ||||||
13 | accompanied by a written report prepared and signed by the | ||||||
14 | witness. The report shall contain a complete statement of: | ||||||
15 | (1) all opinions to be expressed and the basis and | ||||||
16 | reasons for each; | ||||||
17 | (2) the data or other information considered by the | ||||||
18 | witness in forming the opinions; | ||||||
19 | (3) any exhibits to be used as a summary of or support | ||||||
20 | for the opinions; | ||||||
21 | (4) the qualifications of the witness, including a | ||||||
22 | list of all publications authored by the witness within | ||||||
23 | the preceding 10 years; | ||||||
24 | (5) the compensation to be paid for the study and | ||||||
25 | testimony; and |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | (6) a listing of any other cases in which the witness | ||||||
2 | has testified as an expert at trial or by deposition | ||||||
3 | within the preceding 4 years. | ||||||
4 | (c) Disclosures under this Section shall be made at the | ||||||
5 | times and in the sequence directed by the court. In the absence | ||||||
6 | of other directions from the court or stipulation by the | ||||||
7 | parties, the disclosures shall be made at least 90 days before | ||||||
8 | the trial date or the date the case is to be ready for trial | ||||||
9 | or, if the evidence is intended solely to contradict or rebut | ||||||
10 | evidence on the same subject matter identified by another | ||||||
11 | party under subsection (b), within 30 days after the | ||||||
12 | disclosure made by the other party. | ||||||
13 | (d) A party may depose any person who has been identified | ||||||
14 | as an expert whose opinions may be presented at trial. If a | ||||||
15 | report from the expert is required under paragraph (b), the | ||||||
16 | deposition shall not be conducted until after the report is | ||||||
17 | provided.
| ||||||
18 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3007 new) | ||||||
19 | Sec. 8-3007. Interpretation. In interpreting and applying | ||||||
20 | this Part, the courts of this State shall follow the opinions | ||||||
21 | of the United States Supreme Court in Daubert v. Merrell Dow | ||||||
22 | Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993), General Electric | ||||||
23 | Co. v. Joiner, 522 U.S. 136 (1997), Kumho Tire Co. Ltd. v. | ||||||
24 | Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137 (1999), Weisgram v. Marley, 528 U.S. | ||||||
25 | 440 (2000), and their progeny; moreover, the courts of this |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | State may draw from other precedents applying the standards | ||||||
2 | announced by the United States Supreme Court in the foregoing | ||||||
3 | cases and binding in the federal courts of this State.
| ||||||
4 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3008 new) | ||||||
5 | Sec. 8-3008. Interlocutory appeal. Interlocutory appeal of | ||||||
6 | a ruling on the admissibility of expert evidence shall be | ||||||
7 | available at the discretion of the appellate court. In | ||||||
8 | deciding whether to grant the interlocutory appeal, the court | ||||||
9 | shall consider whether: (i) the ruling involved any challenge | ||||||
10 | to the constitutionality of this Part; (ii) the ruling will | ||||||
11 | help prove or disprove criminal liability; or (iii) the ruling | ||||||
12 | will help establish civil liability at or above $75,000, where | ||||||
13 | the testimony could be outcome-determinative for establishing | ||||||
14 | liability or determining damages. Neither a party's failure to | ||||||
15 | seek interlocutory appeal nor an appellate court's decision to | ||||||
16 | deny a motion for interlocutory appeal shall waive a party's | ||||||
17 | right to appeal a ruling on the admissibility of expert | ||||||
18 | evidence after an entry of judgment in the case.
| ||||||
19 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3009 new) | ||||||
20 | Sec. 8-3009. Standard of review. | ||||||
21 | (a) The proper construction of the expert evidence | ||||||
22 | admissibility framework under this Part is a question of law; | ||||||
23 | therefore, the reviewing court shall apply a de novo standard | ||||||
24 | of review in determining whether the trial court fully applied |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | the proper legal standard in considering the admissibility of | ||||||
2 | expert evidence. | ||||||
3 | (b) The application of this Part to determine the | ||||||
4 | admissibility of expert testimony is a question of fact; | ||||||
5 | therefore, the reviewing court shall apply an abuse of | ||||||
6 | discretion standard in determining whether the trial court | ||||||
7 | properly admitted or excluded particular expert evidence.
| ||||||
8 | (735 ILCS 5/8-3010 new) | ||||||
9 | Sec. 8-3010. Application. This Part applies to all actions | ||||||
10 | commenced on or after the effective date of this amendatory | ||||||
11 | Act of the 103rd General Assembly and to all pending actions in | ||||||
12 | which trial has not been scheduled or in which trial has been | ||||||
13 | scheduled in excess of 90 days after the effective date of this | ||||||
14 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
| ||||||
15 | Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are | ||||||
16 | severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
|