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Montana Judiciary hears HB 803 to force earlier disclosure of asbestos trust claims and curb over‑naming of defendants
Summary
Sponsors and business groups told the House Judiciary Committee HB 803 would let juries see a plaintiff’s full asbestos exposure history and require a basic factual showing before naming defendants; opponents representing Libby claimants said existing rules already provide disclosures and warned the bill could delay recoveries.
Representative Greg Overstreet opened the hearing on House Bill 803, telling the committee the bill has two parts: a trust‑claims transparency measure and an over‑naming reform to require basic factual history for each defendant named in an asbestos case. “HB 803 puts the plaintiff's entire exposure history in the open for the jury to see,” Overstreet said.
Proponents including Charles Robinson of the Montana Chamber of Commerce and Mark Behrens of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform argued the bill would reduce…
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