NRS40.6884. Attorney required to consult expert; required affidavit of attorney; required report of expert.

      1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, in an action governed by NRS 40.600 to 40.695, inclusive, that is commenced against a design professional or a person primarily engaged in the practice of professional engineering, land surveying, architecture or landscape architecture, including, without limitation, an action for professional negligence, the attorney for the complainant shall file an affidavit with the court concurrently with the service of the first pleading in the action stating that the attorney:

      (a) Has reviewed the facts of the case;

      (b) Has consulted with an expert;

      (c) Reasonably believes the expert who was consulted is knowledgeable in the relevant discipline involved in the action; and

      (d) Has concluded on the basis of the attorney’s review and the consultation with the expert that the action has a reasonable basis in law and fact.

      2.  The attorney for the complainant may file the affidavit required pursuant to subsection 1 at a later time if the attorney could not consult with an expert and prepare the affidavit before filing the action without causing the action to be impaired or barred by the statute of limitations or repose, or other limitations prescribed by law. If the attorney must submit the affidavit late, the attorney shall file an affidavit concurrently with the service of the first pleading in the action stating the attorney’s reason for failing to comply with subsection 1 and the attorney shall consult with an expert and file the affidavit required pursuant to subsection 1 not later than 45 days after filing the action.

      3.  In addition to the statement included in the affidavit pursuant to subsection 1, a report must be attached to the affidavit. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, the report must be prepared by the expert consulted by the attorney and include, without limitation:

      (a) The resume of the expert;

      (b) A statement that the expert is experienced in each discipline which is the subject of the report;

      (c) A copy of each nonprivileged document reviewed by the expert in preparing the expert’s report, including, without limitation, each record, report and related document that the expert has determined is relevant to the allegations of negligent conduct that are the basis for the action;

      (d) The conclusions of the expert and the basis for the conclusions; and

      (e) A statement that the expert has concluded that there is a reasonable basis for filing the action.

      4.  In an action brought by a claimant in which an affidavit is required to be filed pursuant to subsection 1:

      (a) The report required pursuant to subsection 3 is not required to include the information set forth in paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection 3 if the claimant or the claimant’s attorney files an affidavit, at the time that the affidavit is filed pursuant to subsection 1, stating that the claimant or the claimant’s attorney made reasonable efforts to obtain the nonprivileged documents described in paragraph (c) of subsection 3, but was unable to obtain such documents before filing the action;

      (b) The claimant or the claimant’s attorney shall amend the report required pursuant to subsection 3 to include any documents and information required pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of subsection 3 as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving the document or information; and

      (c) The court may dismiss the action if the claimant and the claimant’s attorney fail to comply with the requirements of paragraph (b).

      5.  An expert consulted by an attorney to prepare an affidavit pursuant to this section must not be a party to the action.

      6.  As used in this section, “expert” means a person who is licensed in a state to engage in the practice of professional engineering, land surveying, architecture or landscape architecture.

      (Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 66)