A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT amending rule 26 of the north carolina rules of civil procedure relating to discovery in bankruptcy trust personal injury claims.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 1A‑1, Rule 26(b) of the Rules of Civil Procedure, is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"Rule 26.  General provisions governing discovery.
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(b)	Discovery scope and limits. – Unless otherwise limited by order of the court in accordance with these rules, the scope of discovery is as follows:
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(2a)	Bankruptcy Trust Personal Injury Claims. – 
a.	Within 30 days after a civil action is filed asserting personal injury claiming disease based upon exposure to asbestos, the plaintiff shall provide to all parties a sworn statement indicating that an investigation of all bankruptcy trust claims has been conducted and that all bankruptcy trust claims that can be made by the plaintiff have been filed.
b.	The plaintiff shall provide the parties with the identity of all bankruptcy trust claims made and all materials submitted to or received from a bankruptcy trust.
c.	The plaintiff shall supplement the information and materials that plaintiff provides pursuant to this subsection within 30 days after the plaintiff files an additional bankruptcy trust claim, supplements an existing bankruptcy trust claim, claim, or receives additional information or materials related to any claim against a bankruptcy trust.
d.	If a defendant has a reasonable belief that the plaintiff can file additional bankruptcy trust claims, the defendant may move the court to stay the civil action until the plaintiff files the bankruptcy trust claim.
e.	A defendant is entitled to a setoff or credit in the amount the plaintiff has been awarded or is reasonably expected to be awarded from a bankruptcy trust.
f.	Bankruptcy trust claims materials are presumed to be relevant and authentic and are admissible in evidence in the civil action.
g.	A defendant in the civil action may seek discovery from a bankruptcy trust. The plaintiff may not claim privilege or confidentiality to bar discovery and shall provide consent or other expression of permission that may be required by the bankruptcy trust to release information and materials sought by the defendant.
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SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to actions pending on or after that date.