Senate Bill 895 Summary

• Adds section 309a to the Revised Judicature Act establishing that jury verdicts in civil actions should be respected and enforced with the highest degree of certainty.

• Permits parties to seek relief from circuit court judgments based on jury verdicts only on specified grounds: mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect, newly discovered evidence, fraud or misconduct by opposing party, void judgment, or other justifiable reasons.

• Grants opposing parties an automatic right of appeal to the court of appeals when a circuit court grants relief from a judgment, with circuit court proceedings stayed during the appeal.

• Requires the court of appeals to take appropriate steps to ensure timely processing of appeals under this section consistent with appellate court rules.

• Mandates that if the circuit court's grant of relief is not reversed on appeal, the action must be reassigned to a different judge who has not participated in previous proceedings.