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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