Sec. 52-195b. Referral of civil action involving motor vehicle to alternative dispute resolution program. Expedited process case. Privileged case. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 52-195b. Referral of civil action involving motor vehicle to alternative dispute resolution program. Expedited process case. Privileged case. (a) In any civil action arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a private passenger motor vehicle the parties may agree to refer the dispute to an alternative dispute resolution program. Such referral shall be made within sixty days of the return date. The duration of the referral shall not exceed ninety days unless the court, for good cause shown, extends the time period. The court shall stay the time periods within which all further pleadings, motions, requests, discovery and other procedures must be filed or undertaken until (1) such time as the alternative dispute resolution process is completed or (2) the time period set by the court for the referral has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

      (b) (1) If the alternative dispute resolution process does not result in a resolution of the dispute, the parties shall report the lack of resolution to the court promptly but in no event later than five days after the expiration of the stay provided in subsection (a) of this section.

      (2) Any such action wherein each plaintiff has limited his own claim, exclusive of interest and costs, to a maximum of seventy-five thousand dollars may, with the consent of all parties, be brought as an expedited process case in accordance with section 51-15 and shall be privileged with respect to assignment for trial.

      (3) Any such action wherein at least one plaintiff has not limited his own claim, exclusive of interest and costs, to a maximum of seventy-five thousand dollars, shall be privileged with respect to assignment for trial.

      (c) If an agreement is reached between the parties on any issues, the neutral party shall report such agreement to the court and the parties shall seek the entry of an appropriate order from the court.

      (d) If the parties had agreed to refer the dispute to an alternative dispute resolution program consisting of binding arbitration, the parties shall report to the court upon completion of such arbitration. The arbitration award may be confirmed in the same manner as any other arbitration award as provided in chapter 909.

      (e) The alternative dispute resolution process under this section shall be deemed to be settlement negotiations for evidentiary and confidentiality purposes.

      (P.A. 93-297, S. 3, 29.)

      History: P.A. 93-297 effective January 1, 1994.