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An Act To Extend the Time for Commencing an Action Relating to Death Caused by Homicide
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 18-A MRSA §2-804, sub-§(b), as amended by PL 2009, c. 180, §1, is further amended to read:
 
(b).    Every wrongful death action must be brought by and in the name of the personal representative of the deceased person. The amount recovered in every wrongful death action, except as otherwise provided, is for the exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse if no minor children, of the children if no surviving spouse, one-half for the exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse and one-half for the exclusive benefit of the minor children to be divided equally among them if there are both surviving spouse and minor children and to the deceased's heirs to be distributed as provided in section 2-106 if there is neither surviving spouse nor minor children. The jury may give damages as it determines a fair and just compensation with reference to the pecuniary injuries resulting from the death and in addition shall give such damages that will compensate the estate of the deceased person for reasonable expenses of medical, surgical and hospital care and treatment and for reasonable funeral expenses. In addition, the jury may give damages not exceeding $500,000 for the loss of comfort, society and companionship of the deceased, including any damages for emotional distress arising from the same facts as those constituting the underlying claim, to the persons for whose benefit the action is brought. The jury may also give punitive damages not exceeding $250,000. An action under this section must be commenced within 2 years after the decedent's death, except that if the decedent's death is caused by a homicide, the action may be commenced within 6 years of the date the personal representative of the decedent discovers that there is a just cause of action against the person who caused the homicide. If a claim under this section is settled without an action having been commenced, the amount paid in settlement must be distributed as provided in this subsection. A settlement on behalf of minor children is not valid unless approved by the court, as provided in Title 14, section 1605.
Sec. 2. Application. This Act applies to wrongful death actions under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 18-A, section 2-804, subsection (b) that, as of the effective date of this Act, have not yet been barred by the statute of limitations in force immediately prior to the effective date of this Act.
 
SUMMARY
This bill expands the time period within which a wrongful death action may be brought in a case of a death caused by a homicide. The bill also provides that the expansion of the time period applies to wrongful death actions that have not been barred by the statute of limitations in force immediately prior to the effective date of this legislation.