AB 2284 Summary

• Establishes the Expedited Jury Trials Act, operative until January 1, 2016, allowing parties to consent to expedited jury trials in civil cases with streamlined procedures.

• Reduces jury size to 8 or fewer jurors with no alternates, limits each side to 3 peremptory challenges, and restricts each side to 3 hours to present its case.

• Requires parties to waive all rights to appeal, directed verdicts, and post-trial motions except for cases involving judicial misconduct, jury misconduct, or corruption that prevented a fair trial.

• Makes verdicts binding and enforceable subject to any written high/low agreements, which specify minimum and maximum damage amounts not disclosed to the jury.

• Directs the Judicial Council to adopt implementing rules and uniform procedures by January 1, 2011, covering consent orders, pretrial procedures, jury selection, and trial time limits.