RI House committee to vote on 38 Studios settlement bill

The Rhode Island House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee will vote on a bill today designed to encourage out-of-court settlements in the 38 Studios lawsuit, The Associated Press reports.

If approved, the full House could vote on the bill later this week. The Rhode Island Senate unanimously approved the legislation last week.

As the House mulls the legislation, The Providence Journal reports that no "lawmaker or high-ranking politician" has been called for testimony in the case.

Governor Lincoln Chafee's office first submitted legislation to encourage settlements in the lawsuit filed against former executives from retired Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's bankrupt 38 Studios and members of the former Rhode Island Economic Corp., which was recently rebranded as The Rhode Island Commerce Corp. In late 2012, after 38 Studios declared bankruptcy, the state filed suit over the $75 million loan guarantee provided to 38 Studios in 2010 and overseen by the RICC.

Rhode Island Rep. Karen MacBeth introduced a bill last week that would prohibit the RICC from making payments related to the loan guarantee.