Prior to October 2016, only four (4) states and the District of Columbia recognized the “pure”[1] contributory negligence rule. In Alabama, DC, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia, plaintiffs were barred from recovery if they were found at least one percent (1%) at fault.[2] However, on October 4, 2016 the D.C. Council unanimously passed D.C. Act 21-490, officially known as “The …
