California Governor Gray Davis has approved legislation that will extend the statute of limitations for filing personal injury and wrongful death actions from one year to two years. SB 688 also extends the time that respondents have to reply to summary judgment motions from 28 days to 75 days.
The measure was opposed by the business community, which argued that it would weaken the process to grant summary judgment motions. "Trial lawyers say they need this law to have more time to respond to summary judgment motions," said Bill Gausewitz, assistant vice president of state affairs for the American Insurance Association. "Summary judgment motions are designed to weed out meritless lawsuits.
