HB1115 CD1

Report Title:

Evidence; Paid Bills Admissible

 

Description:

Provides that in civil proceedings, a paid bill for goods or services is presumed to be authentic and to embody fair and reasonable charges for the itemized goods or services. (HB1115 CD1)

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1115
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE ADMISSIBILITY OF PAID BILLS IN COURT.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to provide that in civil proceedings, a paid bill for goods or services is presumed to be authentic and to embody fair and reasonable charges for the itemized goods or services without the testimony of the provider of the goods or services.

SECTION 2. Chapter 626-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) of Rule 303 to read as follows:

"(c) Presumptions. The following presumptions, and all other presumptions established by law that fall within the criteria of subsection (a) of this rule, are presumptions imposing the burden of producing evidence:

(1) Money delivered by one to another. Money delivered by one to another is presumed to have been due to the latter.

(2) Thing delivered by one to another. A thing delivered by one to another is presumed to have belonged to the latter.

(3) Obligation delivered up to the debtor. An obligation delivered up to the debtor is presumed to have been paid.

(4) Obligation possessed by creditor. An obligation possessed by a creditor is presumed not to have been paid.

(5) Payment of earlier rent or installments. The payment of earlier rent or installments is presumed from a receipt for later rent or installments.

(6) Things possessed. The things which a person possesses are presumed to be owned by the person.

(7) Exercise of act of ownership. A person who exercises acts of ownership over property is presumed to be the owner of it.

(8) Judgment determines, sets forth rights of parties. A judgment, when not conclusive, is presumed to correctly determine or set forth the rights of the parties, but there is no presumption that the facts essential to the judgment have been correctly determined.

(9) Writing. A writing is presumed to have been truly dated.

(10) Letter properly addressed and mailed. A letter correctly addressed and properly mailed is presumed to have been received in the ordinary course of mail.

(11) Trustee's conveyance to a particular person. A trustee or other person, whose duty it was to convey real property to a particular person, is presumed to have actually conveyed to the person when such presumption is necessary to perfect title of such person or the person's successor in interest.

(12) Ancient document affecting real or personal property interest. A deed or will or other writing purporting to create, terminate, or affect an interest in real or personal property is presumed authentic if:

(A) It is at least twenty years old;

(B) It is in such condition as to create no reasonable suspicion concerning its authenticity;

(C) It was kept, or if found was found, in a place where such writing, if authentic, would be likely to be kept or found; and

(D) Persons having an interest in the matter have been generally acting as if it were authentic.

(13) Book purporting to be published by public authority. A book purporting to be printed or published by public authority is presumed to have been so printed or published.

(14) Book purporting to contain reports of adjudged cases. A book purporting to contain reports of cases adjudged in the tribunals of the state or nation where the book is published is presumed to contain correct reports of such cases.

(15) Continuation of a fact, condition, or state. A fact, condition, or state of things is presumed to continue.

(16) Paid bills. A bill for goods or services that has been paid is presumed to be authentic and to embody fair and reasonable charges for the itemized goods or services."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2002.