RI House passes 38 Studios settlement bill

The Rhode Island House of Representatives approved a bill yesterday that is said to encourage settlements in litigation surrounding the collapse of Curt Schilling's 38 Studios, reports NBC 10.

The bill, which passed by a vote of 53-16, was unanimously approved by the state Senate last month. After final votes, it will go to the desk of Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee.

According to the legislation's supporters, it is designed to facilitate out-of-court settlements in lawsuits between the state government and a number of 38 Studios officials. If the bill becomes law, any defendant who settles will be protected from suits filed against them by co-defendants regarding damages for which the co-defendant is found liable. The state of Rhode Island sued 38 Studios founder Curt Schilling and 13 others in 2012 after the company went bankrupt and left state taxpayers on the hook for about $90 million from an original loan amount of $75 million.

"The goal is to encourage settlements to get monies in sooner to the state of Rhode Island, so that we can use that as one of the things that we consider in dealing with this very complex and difficult issue," said state Rep. Nick Mattiello in an interview with NBC 10.