Restatement of the Law, Third, Torts: Apportionment of Liability
(Black Letters)
美国法学会:《侵权法重述·第三次·责任分担编》
Copyright © 2000 by The American Law Institute
说明:本文件由四川大学法学院王竹博士制作,仅供个人学习、研究参考之用,请勿外传,后果自负。本文件部分条文的翻译参考了许传玺、石宏等译《侵权法重述——纲要》,法律出版社2006年版,第1-4、7、8、10-12、14-17、23、26条条文和相应条文的部分“COMMENTS & ILLUSTRATIONS”、“REPORTERS NOTES”的译文,特此致谢。相关译文具体细节请参见注释。
第一节:比较有责性的基本规则
Topic 1- Basic Rules of Comparative Responsibility
第一条 本重述所涉及的问题与诉因
本重述讨论在两位或多位责任人之间分配责任的问题。本重述适用于关于死亡、人身损害(包括精神损害或配偶权),或对有形财产的物理伤害的所有主张(包括法律诉讼与和解),无论其责任基础如何。
1 Issues and Causes of Action Addressed by This Restatement
This Restatement addresses issues of apportioning liability among two or more persons. It applies to all claims (including lawsuits and settlements) for death, personal injury (including emotional distress or consortium), or physical damage to tangible property, regardless of the basis of liability.
第二条 责任的合同性限制
在合同法、诉讼请求的实体法规则和可适用的解释规则允许的情况下,原告与他人之间免除该他人对未来伤害负责的合同,将阻碍原告从该他人处获得对该伤害的赔偿。与原告的过失不同,一项有效的合同性责任限制并不构成事实调查人向任何当事人或他人分配有责性份额的理由。
2 Contractual Limitations on Liability
When permitted by contract law, substantive law governing the claim, and applicable rules of construction, a contract between the plaintiff and another person absolving the person from liability for future harm bars the plaintiff's recovery from that person for the harm. Unlike a plaintiff's negligence, a valid contractual limitation on liability does not provide an occasion for the factfinder to assign a percentage of responsibility to any party or other person.
第三条 定义原告过失的各种严格学说均已被废止
原告的过失应依据适用于被告过失的标准来定义。特别适用于定义原告过失的各种严格学说均已被废止。
3 Ameliorative Doctrines for Defining Plaintiff’s Negligence Abolished
Plaintiff's negligence is defined by the applicable standard for a defendant's negligence. Special ameliorative doctrines for defining plaintiff's negligence are abolished.
第四条 对原告过失和法律原因的证明
被告负有证明原告过失的举证责任,并可采用原告为证明被告过失可以采用的任何方法。除本重述第五题另有规定外,被告亦负有举证责任证明原告过失——如果原告存在任何过失——构成原告所受损害的一项法律原因。
4 Proof of Plaintiff’s Negligence and Legal Causation
The defendant has the burden to prove plaintiff's negligence, and may use any of the methods a plaintiff may use to prove defendant's negligence. Except as otherwise provided in Topic 5, the defendant also has the burden to prove that the plaintiff's negligence, if any, was a legal cause of the plaintiff's damages.
第五条 可归责于原告的过失
假设原告是被告的角色,他人的过失便可以归责于他的话,那么该他人的过失可归责于原告。除非该他人的过失不是仅仅因为原告对机动车享有的所有权,或对该他人使用该机动车的许可而归责于原告。
5 Negligence Imputed to a Plaintiff
The negligence of another person is imputed to a plaintiff whenever the negligence of the other person would have been imputed had the plaintiff been a defendant, except the negligence of another person is not imputed to a plaintiff solely because of the plaintiff's ownership of a motor vehicle or permission for its use by the other person.
第六条 当原告获得的赔偿派生于一项被告对第三人实施了侵权行为的主张和包含于基于遗存诉因法的主张时,过失可归责于原告
(a)当原告声称一项派生于被告对第三人实施侵权行为的主张时,在该项主张中该第三人的过失可归责于原告。原告的赔偿额同样因为其自身的过失而被减少。
(b)根据遗存诉因法,遗产被继承人(生前)的过失在其生存时对其赔偿额影响的同样范围内,影响遗产可获得的赔偿额。遗产受益人的过失不能仅仅因为受益人作为受益人的法律地位而归责于财产。
6 Negligence Imputed to a Plaintiff When the Plaintiff's Recovery Derives from a Claim That the Defendant Committed a Tort Against a Third Person and in Claims Under Survival Statutes
(a) When a plaintiff asserts a claim that derives from the defendant's tort against a third person, negligence of the third person is imputed to the plaintiff with respect to that claim. The plaintiff's recovery is also reduced by the plaintiff's own negligence.
(b) The negligence of an estate's decedent affects the estate's recovery under a survival statute to the same extent that it would have affected the decedent's recovery had the decedent survived. The negligence of a beneficiary of the decedent's estate is not imputed to the estate merely because of the beneficiary's status as a beneficiary.
第七条 在原告遭受不可分损害时原告过失的效力
若原告的过失(或原告应为其过失负责的其他人的过失)构成原告遭受的不可分损害的一项法律原因,则原告的所获得的赔偿额将依据事实调查人分配给原告(或原告应为其过失负责的该他人)的有责性份额相应比例地减少。
7 Effect of Plaintiff’s Negligence When Plaintiff Suffers an Indivisible Injury
Plaintiff's negligence (or the negligence of another person for whose negligence the plaintiff is responsible) that is a legal cause of an indivisible injury to the plaintiff reduces the plaintiff's recovery in proportion to the share of responsibility the factfinder assigns to the plaintiff (or other person for whose negligence the plaintiff is responsible).
第八条 分配有责性份额时应考虑的因素
向法律责任已被确定的各方分配有责性份额时应考虑的因素包括:
(a)该方造成风险之行为的性质,包括任何对该行为所造成风险的认识或漠视,以及任何对该行为所造成损害的意图;及
(b)该方造成风险之行为与该损害之间因果关系的强度。
8 Factors for Assigning Shares of Responsibility
Factors for assigning percentages of responsibility to each person whose legal responsibility has been established include
(a) the nature of the person's risk-creating conduct, including any awareness or indifference with respect to the risks created by the conduct and any intent with respect to the harm created by the conduct; and
(b) the strength of the causal connection between the person's risk-creating conduct and the harm.
第九条 判决的抵销
如果同一诉讼中的双方当事人都相互负有责任,那么各方都有权抵消对方享有的任何(相应)赔偿额;除非一方或双方都有责任保险,那么抵消不会减少责任保险人应支付的金额,适用的法律规范或制定法另有规定的除外。
9 Offsetting Judgments
If two parties are liable to each other in the same suit, each party is entitled to a setoff of any recovery owed by the other party, except that, in cases in which one or both of the parties has liability insurance, setoff does not reduce the payment of a liability insurer unless an applicable rule of law or statute so provides.
第二节:数个侵权行为人对不可分损害的责任
Topic 2- Liability of Multiple Tortfeasors for Indivisible Harm
第十条 连带责任的效力
当依据适用的法律,有多人对某一受害人承担连带责任时,该受害人可以起诉任一连带责任人,并从该人处获得可救济的全部损害赔偿。
10 Effect of Joint and Several Liability
When, under applicable law, some persons are jointly and severally liable to an injured person, the injured person may sue for and recover the full amount of recoverable damages from any jointly and severally liable person.
第十一条 单独责任的效力
当依据适用的法律,某人对受害人的不可分损害承担单独责任时,该受害人仅可以获得该负单独责任者在该受害人应得赔偿额中的比较有责性份额。
11 Effect of Several Liability
When, under applicable law, a person is severally liable to an injured person for an indivisible injury, the injured person may recover only the severally liable person's comparative-responsibility share of the injured person's damages.
第十二条 故意侵权行为人
每个实施以故意为要件的侵权行为的人,均应对该侵权行为作为法律原因造成的任何不可分损害承担连带责任。
12 Intentional Tortfeasors
Each person who commits a tort that requires intent is jointly and severally liable for any indivisible injury legally caused by the tortious conduct.
第十三条 替代责任
无论对导致不可分损害的独立侵权行为人适用的规则是连带责任或者单独责任,基于他人侵权性的行为而承担责任的人,对分配给该他人的整个比较有责性份额承担责任。
13 Vicarious Liability
A person whose liability is imputed based on the tortious acts of another is liable for the entire share of comparative responsibility assigned to the other, regardless of whether joint and several liability or several liability is the governing rule for independent tortfeasors who cause an indivisible injury.
第十四条 因未就某一故意侵权行为的具体风险对原告提供保护而承担责任的侵权行为人
因未就某一故意侵权行为的具体风险对他人提供保护而承担责任的一方,应在分配给他的比较有责性份额之外,对分配给故意侵权行为人的比较有责性份额承担连带责任。
§14 Tortfeasors Liable for Failure to Protect the Plaintiff from the Specific Risk of an Intentional Tort
A person who is liable to another based on a failure to protect the other from the specific risk of an intentional tort is jointly and severally liable for the share of comparative responsibility assigned to the intentional tortfeasor in addition to the share of comparative responsibility assigned to the person.
第十五条 共同行为人
当多人因共同行为而承担责任时,所有各方应对分配给参与该共同行为的每一方的比较有责性份额承担连带责任。
15 Persons Acting in Concert
When persons are liable because they acted in concert, all persons are jointly and severally liable for the share of comparative responsibility assigned to each person engaged in concerted activity.
第十六条对连带责任人之责任所做部分和解的效力
原告可从一负连带责任的侵权行为人处获得的赔偿应减去应分配给另一已和解,否则将对负连带责任的其他未和解被告承担分摊责任的侵权行为人的比较赔偿份额。该已和解侵权行为人的比较赔偿份额是分配给该已和解侵权行为人的比较有责性份额与原告赔偿总额的乘积。
16 Effect of Partial Settlement on Jointly and Severally Liable Tortfeasors’ Liability
The plaintiff's recoverable damages from a jointly and severally liable tortfeasor are reduced by the comparative share of damages attributable to a settling tortfeasor who otherwise would have been liable for contribution to jointly and severally liable defendants who do not settle. The settling tortfeasor's comparative share of damages is the percentage of comparative responsibility assigned to the settling tortfeasor multiplied by the total damages of the plaintiff.
第十七条 独立侵权行为人的连带责任或单独责任
如有两人或多人的独立侵权行为构成某一不可分损害的法律原因,将由该案司法管辖区的法律确定这些侵权人应否承担连带责任、单独责任或连带责任与单独责任的某种混合责任形态。
17 Joint and Several or Several Liability for Independent Tortfeasors
If the independent tortious conduct of two or more persons is a legal cause of an indivisible injury, the law of the applicable jurisdiction determines whether those persons are jointly and severally liable, severally liable, or liable under some hybrid of joint and several and several liability.
路径A:连带责任
Track A - Joint and Several Liability
A路径第18条 数个侵权行为人对不可分损害的责任
如果两个或两个以上的共同侵权行为构成一不可分损害的法律原因,那么每个人均对该侵权行为造成的可获得损害赔偿承担连带责任。
A18 Liability of Multiple Tortfeasors for Indivisible Harm
If the independent tortious conduct of two or more persons is a legal cause of an indivisible injury, each person is jointly and severally liable for the recoverable damages caused by the tortious conduct.
A路径第19条 有责性分配:负连带责任的被告
如果一个被告和至少另一方当事人或者和解侵权行为人可能被事实调查人确认曾经参与了作为不可分损害法律原因的侵权行为,上述每一方与和解侵权行为人都需遵从于由事实调查人分配的比较有责性份额。
A19 Assignment of Responsibility: Jointly and Severally Liable Defendants
If one defendant and at least one other party or settling tortfeasor may be found by the factfinder to have engaged in tortious conduct that was a legal cause of an indivisible injury, each such party and settling tortfeasor is submitted to the factfinder for assignment of a percentage of comparative responsibility.
A路径第20条 无此条可适用于该路径
A20 [Not Applicable to This Track.]
A路径第21条 无此条可适用于该路径
A21 [Not Applicable to This Track.]
路径B:单独责任
Track B - Several Liability
B路径第18条 数个侵权行为人对不可分损害的责任
如果两个或两个以上人的独立侵权行为均构成一不可分损害的法律原因,每个人均对事实调查人分配给该人的原告损害赔偿的比较责任份额承担单独责任,适用本重述第12条例外规定的除外。
B18 Liability of Multiple Tortfeasors for Indivisible Harm
If two or more persons' independent tortious conduct is the legal cause of an indivisible injury, each defendant, subject to the exception stated in §12, is severally liable for the comparative share of the plaintiff's damages assigned to that defendant by the factfinder.
B路径第19条 有责性分配:负单独责任的被告
如果一名或者多名被告可能对一不可分损害承担单独责任,并且至少一位被告和一位另一方当事人、和解侵权行为人,或者被确定的可能被事实调查人确定为曾参与了作为受害人损害法律原因侵权行为的人,上述当事人、和解侵权行为人和被确定的人都遵从事实调查人对比较有责性份额的分配。
B19 Assignment of Responsibility: Severally Liable Defendants
If one or more defendants may be held severally liable for an indivisible injury, and at least one defendant and one other party, settling tortfeasor, or identified person may be found by the factfinder to have engaged in tortious conduct that was a legal cause of the plaintiff's injury, each such party, settling tortfeasor, and other identified person is submitted to the factfinder for an assignment of a percentage of comparative responsibility.
B路径第20条 无此条可适用于该路径
B20 [Not Applicable to This Track.]
B路径第21条 无此条可适用于该路径
B21 [Not Applicable to This Track.]
路径C:结合再分配的连带责任
Track C - Joint and Several Liability with Reallocation
C路径第18条 数个侵权行为人对不可分损害的责任
如果两个或两个以上的共同侵权行为构成一不可分损害的法律原因,那么根据本重述C路径第21条规定的再分配条款,每个人均对该侵权行为造成的可获得损害赔偿承担连带责任。
C18 Liability of Multiple Tortfeasors for Indivisible Harm
If the independent tortious conduct of two or more persons is a legal cause of an indivisible injury, each person is jointly and severally liable for the recoverable damages caused by the tortious conduct, subject to the reallocation provision of §C21.
C路径第19条 有责性分配:负连带责任的被告
如果存在一个被告和至少一个另一方、和解侵权行为人或如本重述C路径第20条(a)所描述的,其比较有责性在法律上与原告不可分损害的责任分配有关的雇主,可能被事调查人发现参与了作为原告损害法律原因的请求行为的每一方、每个和解侵权行为人和每个由本重述C路径第20条(a)许可的雇主,均需遵从事实调查人对比较有责性份额的分配。
C19 Assignment of Responsibility: Jointly and Severally Liable Defendants
If one defendant and at least one other party, settling tortfeasor, or employer described in §C20(a) whose comparative responsibility is legally relevant to apportioning liability for the plaintiff's indivisible injury exist, each party, each settling tortfeasor, and, as permitted by §C20(a), each employer who may be found by the factfinder to have engaged in tortious conduct that was a legal cause of the plaintiff's injury is submitted to the fact-finder for assignment of a percentage of comparative responsibility.
C路径第20条 分配给免责雇主的有责性的效力
如果一方宣称原告的雇主对原告的损害负有一定的有责性(,那么):
(a)如果该司法辖区适用的法律允许基于雇主的比较有责性对可获得损害赔偿的减少,否则免于被作为原告的雇员起诉,或者允许被告对雇主的分摊主张,雇主可能被分配一定份额的比较有责性,并且:(i)对可获得损害赔偿的减少为适用的法律所允许;或(ii)分摊的裁定为适用法律和雇主的比较有责性所允许。
(b)如果该司法辖区适用的法律不允许基于雇主的比较有责性减少可获得损害赔偿,或(不允许)对雇主提出分摊主张,则不能向雇主分配比较有责性份额。
C20 Effect of Responsibility Assigned to Immune Employer
If a party alleges that the plaintiff's employer bears some responsibility for the plaintiff's injury:
(a) If the applicable law of the jurisdiction permits a reduction of recoverable damages based on the comparative responsibility of an employer otherwise immune from suit by the plaintiff-employee or permits a contribution claim by a defendant against the employer, the employer may be assigned a percentage of comparative responsibility and: (i) the recoverable damages are reduced as permitted by the applicable law; or (ii) contribution is awarded as permitted by the applicable law and the employer's comparative responsibility.
(b) If the applicable law of the jurisdiction does not permit either a reduction of recoverable damages based on the comparative responsibility of an employer or a contribution claim against the employer, the employer may not be assigned a percentage of comparative responsibility.
C路径第21条 基于裁决不可执行的赔偿再分配
(a)除非如本条(b)款所规定,如果一个被告确认有关其分摊请求权的判决不可能从另一个被告那里完全受偿责任分摊,法院将按照包括原告在内的其他各方被分配的比较有责性份额,向他们重新分配赔偿金中不能受偿的部分。
(b)按照本条(a)款进行的重新分配,不适用于任何依据本重述第十二条(故意侵权行为人)或者第十五条(共同行为人)承担连带责任的被告。任何依据本重述第十三条(替代责任)或者第十四条(因未就某一故意侵权行为的具体风险对原告提供保护而承担责任的侵权行为人)而对分配给他人的比较过错份额承担法律责任的被告,不应接受的基于上述条款的责任的重新分配。
C21 Reallocation of Damages Based on Unenforceability of Judgment
(a)Except as provided in Subsection (b), if a defendant establishes that a judgment for contribution cannot be collected fully from another defendant, the court reallocates the uncollectible portion of the damages to all other parties, including the plaintiff, in proportion to the percentages of comparative responsibility assigned to the other parties.
(b) Reallocation under Subsection (a) is not available to any defendant subject to joint and several liability pursuant to §12 (intentional tortfeasors) or §15 (persons acting in concert). Any defendant legally liable for the share of comparative fault assigned to another person pursuant to §13 (vicarious liability) or §14 (tortfeasors who fail to protect the plaintiff from the specific risk of an intentional tort) may not obtain reallocation of the liability imposed by those Sections.
路径D:基于比较有责性份额门槛的混合责任
Track D - Hybrid Liability Based on Threshold Percentage of Comparative Responsibility
D路径第18条 数个侵权行为人对不可分损害的责任
如果两个或两个以上的共同侵权行为构成一不可分损害的法律原因,每个被分配等于或者超过法律规定门槛比例的比较有责性的被告负连带责任,每个被分配少于法律规定门槛比例的比较有责性的被告负单独责任,适用本重述第十二条(故意侵权行为人)规定的除外。
D18 Liability of Multiple Tortfeasors for Indivisible Harm
If the independent tortious conduct of two or more persons is a legal cause of an indivisible injury, each defendant who is assigned a percentage of comparative responsibility equal to or in excess of the legal threshold is jointly and severally liable, and each defendant who is assigned a percentage of comparative responsibility below the legal threshold is, subject to the exception in §12 (intentional tortfeasors), severally liable.
D路径第19条 有责性分配:负连带责任的被告与负单独责任的被告
(a)如果一名或者多名被告可能对一不可分损害承担单独责任,并且至少一位被告和一位另一方当事人、和解侵权行为人,或者被确定的可能被事实调查人确定为曾参与了作为受害人损害法律原因侵权行为的人,上述当事人、和解侵权行为人和被确定的人都遵从事实调查人对比较有责性份额的分配。
(b)如果对所有被告均只能对一不可分损害适用连带责任,可能被事实调查人发现参与了作为原告损害的法律原因的侵权行为的每一方和每一和解侵权行为人都需遵从事实调查人对比较有责性份额的分配。
D19 Assignment of Responsibility: Both Jointly and Severally Liable and Severally Liable Defendants
(a)If one or more defendants may be held severally liable for an indivisible injury, and at least one defendant and one other party, settling tortfeasor, or identified person may be found by the factfinder to have engaged in tortious conduct that was a legal cause of the plaintiff's injury, each such party, settling tortfeasor, and other identified person is submitted to the factfinder for an assignment of a percentage of comparative responsibility.
(b)If all defendants can only be held jointly and severally liable for an indivisible injury, each party and each settling tortfeasor who may be found by the factfinder to have engaged in tortious conduct that was a legal cause of the plaintiff's injury are submitted to the fact-finder for an assignment of a percentage of comparative responsibility.
D路径第20条 无此条可适用于该路径
D20 [Not Applicable to This Track.]
D路径第21条 无此条可适用于该路径
D21 [Not Applicable to This Track.]
路径E:基于赔偿种类的混合责任
Track E - Hybrid Liability Based on Type of Damages 4
E路径第18条 数个侵权行为人对不可分损害的责任
如果一个或多个人的独立侵权行为构成一不可分损害的法律原因,每个被告均对可获得损害赔偿中的财产损害部分承担连带责任,依据本重述第十二条(故意侵权行为人)和第十五条(共同行为人)的除外;对该被告的非财产损害部分的比较份额承担单独责任。
E18 Liability of Multiple Tortfeasors for Indivisible Harm
If the independent tortious conduct of two or more persons is a legal cause of an indivisible injury, each defendant is jointly and severally liable for the economic-damages portion of the recoverable damages and, subject to the exceptions stated in §12 (intentional tortfeasors) and §15 (persons acting in concert), is severally liable for that defendant's comparative share of the noneconomic damages.
E路径第19条 有责性分配:对财产损害的连带责任以及对非财产损害赔偿的单独责任
(a)当原告仅可能获得一不可分损害的财产损害赔偿,并且至少一位被告和一位另一方当事人或和解侵权行为人可能被事实调查人发现曾参与了构成原告损害法律原因的侵权行为,上述各方和和解侵权行为人需遵从事实调查人对比较有责性份额的分配。
(b)当原告可能获得非财产损害赔偿,并且至少一位被告和一位另一方当事人、和解侵权行为人,或者被确定的可能被事实调查人确定为曾参与了作为受害人损害法律原因侵权行为的人,上述各方、和解侵权行为人和被确定的人需遵从事实调查人对比较有责性份额的分配。
E19 Assignment of Responsibility: Joint and Several Liability for Economic Damages and Several Liability for Noneconomic Damages
(a)When plaintiff may recover only economic damages for an indivisible injury and at least one defendant and one other party or settling tortfeasor may be found by the factfinder to have engaged in tortious conduct that was a legal cause of the plaintiff's injury, each such party and settling tortfeasor is submitted to the factfinder for assignment of a percentage of comparative responsibility.
(b) When plaintiff may recover noneconomic damages and at least one defendant and one other party, settling tortfeasor, or identified person may be found by the factfinder to have engaged in tortious conduct that was a legal cause of the plaintiff's injury, each such party, settling tortfeasor, and identified person is submitted to the factfinder for assignment of a percentage of comparative responsibility.
E路径第20条 无此条可适用于该路径
E20 [Not Applicable to This Track.]
E路径第21条 无此条可适用于该路径
E21 [Not Applicable to This Track.]
第三节:分摊与追偿
Topic 3- Contribution and Indemnity
第二十二条 追偿
(a)当两个或两个以上的人对同一损害承担或可能承担责任时,其中一人通过和解或履行判决免除他人的全部或部分责任时,免除责任的一方有权(从该他人处)寻求追偿支付给原告数额,在以下情况还包括合理的法律费用支出:
(1)被追偿人人事先通过签订合同同意赔偿追偿人,或
(2)追偿人
(i)除非因替代责任,否则不对被追偿人的侵权行为负责,或
(ii)除追偿人是出售被追偿人提供的产品的卖方,且追偿人并非单独具有可责难性,否则不负责任。
(b)有权依照合同寻求追偿的人,即使在寻求补偿的人的对方当事人并不对原告负责的情况下,仍然可以行使追偿请求权。
§22 Indemnity
(a)When two or more persons are or may be liable for the same harm and one of them discharges the liability of another in whole or in part by settlement or discharge of judgment, the person discharging the liability is entitled to recover indemnity in the amount paid to the plaintiff, plus reasonable legal expenses, if:
(1)the indemnitor has agreed by contract to indemnify the indemnitee, or
(2) the indemnitee
(i) was not liable except vicariously for the tort of the indemnitor, or
(ii)was not liable except as a seller of a product supplied to the indemnitee by the indemnitor and the indemnitee was not independently culpable.
(b) A person who is otherwise entitled to recover indemnity pursuant to contract may do so even if the party against whom indemnity is sought would not be liable to the plaintiff.
第二十三条 分摊
(a)当两人或多人对或可能对同一损害承担责任而其中一人已通过和解或履行裁决承担他人责任时,承担他人责任的该人有权向该他人追偿责任分摊,除非该他人此前已与原告达成有效的和解、得到原告的免除。
(b)有权追偿责任分摊的人可以获得不多于该人支付给原告的数额中超出该人有责性相对份额的部分。
(c)依据第22条享有补偿请求权的一方对该方不享有分摊权,并且不对该方负有分摊责任。
§23 Contribution
(a)When two or more persons are or may be liable for the same harm and one of them discharges the liability of another by settlement or discharge of judgment, the person discharging the liability is entitled to recover contribution from the other, unless the other previously had a valid settlement and release from the plaintiff.
(b) A person entitled to recover contribution may recover no more than the amount paid to the plaintiff in excess of the person's comparative share of responsibility.
(c) A person who has a right of indemnity against another person under §22 does not have a right of contribution against that person and is not subject to liability for contribution to that person.
第四节:和解
Topic 4- Settlement
第二十四条 和解的定义与效力
(a)和解是一份具有法律强制性的协议,在该协议中请求权人同意在协议之外,不再针对该特别损害寻求额外赔偿,或者向部分或所有可能对相关损害或主张负责的人提出主张。
(b)通过和解方式免除责任的人,在和解协议所涵盖的特别损害或者主张的范围内,可能产生的对请求权人的未来责任也得到了免除,但该和解协议并不免除任何其他人的责任。
24 Definition and Effect of Settlement
(a) A settlement is a legally enforceable agreement in which a claimant agrees not to seek recovery outside the agreement for specified injuries or claims from some or all of the persons who might be liable for those injuries or claims.
(b) Persons released from liability by the terms of a settlement are relieved of further liability to the claimant for the injuries or claims covered by the agreement, but the agreement does not discharge any other person from liability.
第二十五条 通过履行判决满足诉讼请求
(a)当一项判决包括了对原告因遭受的一项不可分损害而可获得损害赔偿的损害范围的确定,并提供原告可从被告中的一个或多个处获得赔偿时,对原告可获得损害赔偿的全额支付,构成了对原告享有的对所有对原告所受该不可分损害负有法律责任的侵权行为人的请求权的满足。
(b)当一项判决包括了对原告因遭受的一项不可分损害而可获得损害赔偿的损害范围的确定,并提供原告可从多个共同被告处获得赔偿时,该案被告中的一个或者多个支付的少于原告可获得损害赔偿总额的赔偿等额减少原告可从该案被告获得的赔偿额。
(c)当一项确认了少于或者可能少于原告可获得损害赔偿数额的判决,是针对一个或者多个侵权行为人,而他们中没有任何人承担连带责任时,对判决确定的该赔偿额的支付并不构成对原告针对所有侵权行为人权利的满足。
25 Satisfaction of Claim Through Discharge of Judgment
(a)When a judgment includes a determination of the entirety of recoverable damages suffered by the plaintiff for an indivisible injury and provides for their recovery by the plaintiff against one or more of the defendants, payment of the full amount of recoverable damages constitutes a satisfaction of the plaintiff's rights against all tortfeasors legally responsible for the plaintiff's indivisible injury.
(b)When a judgment includes a determination of the entirety of recoverable damages suffered by the plaintiff for an indivisible injury and provides for their recovery by the plaintiff against multiple defendants, payment by one or more judgment defendants of less than the full amount of the recoverable damages constitutes a reduction of the plaintiff's right to recover from the judgment defendants in the amount of the value of the payment.
(c) When a judgment against one or more tortfeasors, none of whom is jointly and severally liable, is for an amount that is or may be less than all of the recoverable damages by the plaintiff, payment of the amount of the judgment does not constitute a satisfaction of the plaintiff's rights against all tortfeasors.
第五节:损害可依因果关系分割时的责任分担
Topic 5- Apportionment of Liability when Damages can be Divided by Causation
第二十六条 损害可依因果关系分割时的责任分担
(a)当对某一损害的赔偿可依因果关系被分割时,事实调查人首先将其分割为其不可再分的组成部分,然后依据上述第一至四题的规定,就每一不可再分的组成部分单独分配责任。
(b)当有关证据提供了可使事实调查人确定以下事项的合理依据时,赔偿可依因果关系被分割;
(1)被事实调查人向其分配有责性份额的一方当事人或其他相关人,其任何具有法律上可责难性的行为,构成少于原告所寻求获得的全部赔偿额的一项法律原因,并且;
(2)此赔偿数额为该行为单独造成。
否则,赔偿便不可分割,因此有关损害也不可分割。对一不可分损害的责任应依据第一至四题进行分配。
§26 Apportionment of Liability When Damages Can Be Divided by Causation
(a) When damages for an injury can be divided by causation, the factfinder first divides them into their indivisible component parts and separately apportions liability for each indivisible component part under Topics 1 through 4.
(b) Damages can be divided by causation when the evidence provides a reasonable basis for the factfinder to determine:
(1) that any legally culpable conduct of a party or other relevant person to whom the fact-finder assigns a percentage of responsibility was a legal cause of less than the entire damages for which the plaintiff seeks recovery and
(2) the amount of damages separately caused by that conduct.
Otherwise, the damages are indivisible and thus the injury is indivisible. Liability for an indivisible injury is apportioned under Topics 1 through 4.
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