Decision of the court

§ 4213. Decision of the court. (a) Requests for findings. Before the case is finally submitted, the court shall afford the parties an opportunity to submit requests for findings of fact. Each request shall be numbered and so phrased that the court may conveniently pass upon it.

(b) Form of decision. The decision of the court may be oral or in writing and shall state the facts it deems essential. In any action brought to recover damages for personal injury, injury to property, or wrongful death, a decision awarding damages shall specify the applicable elements of special and general damages upon which the award is based and the amount assigned to each element, including but not limited to medical expenses, dental expenses, podiatric expenses, loss of earnings, impairment of earning ability, and pain and suffering. In a medical, dental or podiatric malpractice action, commenced on or after July twenty-sixth, two thousand three, the court's decision as to future damages shall be itemized in accordance with subdivision (d) of rule forty-one hundred eleven of this chapter. In any action brought to recover damages for personal injury, injury to property or wrongful death, other than a medical, dental or podiatric malpractice action commenced on or after July twenty-sixth, two thousand three, the court's decision as to future damages shall be itemized in accordance with subdivision (e) of rule forty-one hundred eleven of this chapter.

(c) Time for decision. The decision of the court shall be rendered within sixty days after the cause or matter is finally submitted or within sixty days after a motion under rule 4403, whichever is later, unless the parties agree to extend the time.