SB 59 — Limitations of Liability for Municipalities: Ante Litem Notice

This legislation, as passed by the House Ways and Means Committee, would extend the period for plaintiffs to provide notice of an intent to sue a city from six months to twelve months, in parity with counties and the state. This would allow plaintiffs more time from an incident to contemplate a suit against a city. 

As passed by the same committee, cities limitations of liability would be set at $3 million per person and $5 million per occurrence, significantly higher and not in parity with counties or the state. Counties arguably have extensive and unwaived sovereign immunity in most cases while the state has limitations on its liability set at $1 million per person and $3 million per occurrence.