Vermont H 543: An act relating to negligence actions and post-traumatic stress disorder

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.543
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VT LEG #385568 v.1
H.543 1
Introduced by Representative Goodnow of Brattleboro 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Court procedure; negligence actions; post-traumatic stress disorder 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to permit a 6
diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder to satisfy the requirement in 7
negligence actions that the plaintiff show actual injury. 8
An act relating to negligence actions and post-traumatic stress disorder 9
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 10
Sec. 1. PURPOSE 11
The purpose of this act is to overrule the Vermont Supreme Court’s 12
decision in Zeno-Etheridge v. Comcast Corp., 219 Vt. 121 (2024) and permit a 13
post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis to satisfy the required element of a 14
negligence claim that the plaintiff show actual injury. 15
Sec. 2. 12 V.S.A. § 1036a is added to read: 16
§ 1036a. NEGLIGENCE; ACTUAL INJURY; POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 17
DISORDER 18

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.543
2026 Page 2 of 2

VT LEG #385568 v.1
In any civil action, the required element in a negligence claim of actual 1
injury to the plaintiff may be satisfied by a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress 2
disorder. 3
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4
This act shall take effect on passage. 5