CIVIL/DAMAGES: Provides limitations relative to claims for general damages

HLS 26RS-1138 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 526
BY REPRESENTATIVE DICKERSON
CIVIL/DAMAGES: Provides limitations relative to claims for general damages
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Civil Code Article 2315.14, relative to payment of certain claims; to provide
3 relative to damage caps; to establish caps on general damages; to provide for
4 exceptions; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. Civil Code Article 2315.14 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 Art. 2315.14. Damage caps; general damages
8 A. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, general damages shall not
9 be awarded in a delictual action in an amount in excess of five hundred thousand
10 dollars, regardless of the number of parties against whom the action is brought.
11 B. If the trier of fact finds that a claimant has suffered a permanent mental
12 injury that severely impairs the claimant's ability to be employed or enjoy a
13 reasonable standard of living, general damages shall not be awarded in a delictual
14 action in an amount in excess of one million dollars, regardless of the number of
15 parties against whom the action is brought.
16 C. The limitations on general damages imposed by Paragraph A and
17 Paragraph B of this Article do not apply if the trier of fact finds that the claimant has
18 suffered permanent and severe physical injury, including a substantial physical
19 abnormality or disfigurement, loss of use of a limb, loss of or substantial impairment
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1138 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 526
1 to a major body organ or system, or an injury that renders the claimant permanently
2 incapable of independent self-care or the ability to perform life-sustaining activities.
3 D. The limitations on general damages imposed by Paragraph A and
4 Paragraph B of this Article do not apply if the trier of fact finds by clear and
5 convincing evidence that the tortfeasor's actions were intentional or malicious.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 526 Original 2026 Regular Session Dickerson
Abstract: Establishes a cap on the award of general damages.
Proposed law prohibits an award of general damages in a delictual action in an amount
exceeding $500,000 regardless of the number of parties against whom the action is brought.
Proposed law provides that if a claimant has suffered a permanent mental injury that severely
impairs the claimant's ability to be employed or enjoy a reasonable standard of living,
general damages are prohibited in a delictual action in an award amount exceeding
$1,000,000 regardless of the number of parties against whom the action is brought.
Proposed law does not apply if the trier of fact finds that the claimant has suffered permanent
and severe physical injury.
Proposed law does not apply if the trier of fact finds by clear and convincing evidence that
the tortfeasor's actions were intentional or malicious.
(Adds C.C. Art. 2315.14)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.