In re Special Task Force- proposed amends. to Ark. R. Civ. P. 11 & 12

Summary

The court published revised proposed amendments to Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure 11 and 42 for public comment. The proposed Rule 11 would require certification of expert consultation for claims or defenses dependent on expert testimony and would reorganize sanctions procedures, while the proposed Rule 42 would require bifurcation of punitive-damages amounts and leave the timing of punitive-damages liability to the circuit court's discretion. The proposals were not presented as a final adjudication or operative amendments, and the comment period was set to expire on September 30, 2014.