AB 2494 Summary

• Removes the December 31, 1994 date limitation on trial courts' authority to award reasonable expenses and attorney's fees for frivolous or bad-faith actions and tactics, effective January 1, 2015

• Expands the definition of sanctionable "actions or tactics" to include filing and serving answers or other responsive pleadings, while excluding discovery requests, responses, objections, and motions

• Requires parties filing sanctions motions to promptly submit documentation to the California Research Bureau, which must maintain a public record of these documents for at least 3 years

• Applies sanctions standards and procedures consistent with Section 128.7 of the Code of Civil Procedure and requires written orders detailing the conduct justifying sanctions

• Sunsets the amended provisions on January 1, 2018, and requires the California Research Bureau to submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2017 examining the bill's impact on frivolous litigation