(a) In an asbestos action, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that trust claim materials and trust governance documents are relevant, authentic, and admissible in evidence. A claim of privilege does not apply to trust claim materials or trust governance documents.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 6-5-694

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
(b) A defendant in an asbestos action may seek discovery from an asbestos 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 asbestos trust to release the information and materials sought by the defendant.