| Chapter 023 |
| 2019 -- H 5475 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/13/2019 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS -- CONTRIBUTION AMONG JOINT TORTFEASORS |
| Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, McEntee, Craven, Millea, and Jackson |
| Date Introduced: February 14, 2019 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 10-6 of the General Laws entitled "Contribution Among Joint |
| Tortfeasors" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 10-6-12. Court-approved settlements. |
| The following provisions apply solely and exclusively to judicially approved good-faith |
| settlements of claims relating to the Feld Entertainment/Ringling Brothers Circus accident on |
| May 4, 2014. |
| (a) A release by a claimant of one joint tortfeasor, whether before or after judgment, does |
| not discharge the other joint tortfeasors unless the release so provides, but such release shall |
| reduce the claim against the other joint tortfeasors in the amount of the consideration paid for the |
| release. |
| (b) A release by a claimant of one joint tortfeasor relieves them from liability to make a |
| contribution to another joint tortfeasor. |
| (c) For purposes of this section, a good-faith settlement is one that does not exhibit |
| collusion, fraud, dishonesty, or other wrongful or tortious conduct intended to prejudice the non- |
| settling tortfeasor(s), irrespective of the settling or non-settling tortfeasors' proportionate share of |
| liability. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall apply to all claims pending |
| at the time of passage or asserted thereafter; provided, however, that this act shall not apply to, |
| affect or impair releases executed before the passage date. |
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| LC001533/SUB A |
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