Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
Senator JON M. BRAMNICK
District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Requires defendants, including insurance companies named as defendants, to be properly identified in causes of action.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Commerce Committee on May 22, 2025, with amendments.
An Act concerning litigation transparency 1[in insurance liability cases]1 and supplementing Title 17 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. In an action for the recovery of 1[economic or noneconomic losses sustained as a result of an incident or accident involving a person or entity that is insured against the incident or accident, the sole named defendant in the action shall be the insurance company covering the insured person or entity against the incident or accident] damages, defendants shall be properly named throughout the litigation, including insurance companies named as defendants1.
b. During litigation and at any trial subject to subsection a. of this section, 1[the] an1 insurance company 1named as a defendant1 shall be referred to by the company’s legal name, as filed and approved by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance pursuant to the “New Jersey Insurance Producer Licensing Act of 2001,” P.L.2001, c.210 (C.17:22A-26 1et seq.1), and not by 1[the] any1 assumed or fictitious name of the company. At any trial subject to subsection a. of this section, the triers of fact shall be informed of the legal name of the defendant.
1[c. Subsection a. of this section shall apply to all lines of insurance subject to Title 17 of the Revised States or Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes, but shall not apply to annuities.]1
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to 1[insurance policies issued, executed, delivered, or renewed on or after that date] all causes of action1.