Indiana Law Review Indiana law Review Volume 17 No. 3 1984 Symposium on Indiana's Comparative Fault Act The Indiana Comparative Fault Act At First (Lingering) Glance Lawrence P. Wilkins Drafting and Legislative History of the Comparative Fault Act Edgar W. Bayliff Indiana's Comparative Fault Law: A Legislator's View Nelson J. Becker The Indiana Comparative Fault Act: How Does It Compare With Other Jurisdictions? Debra S. Easterday Thomas V. Easterday Comparative Fault and the Nonparty Tortfeasor Leonard E. Eilbacher The Impact of Comparative Fault in Indiana Roger L. Pardieck Comparative Negligence in Indiana: A Unique Statute That Will Reshape the Law Victor E. Schwartz Fairness: A Comparative Analysis of the Indiana and Uniform Comparative Fault Acts David Randolph Smith John W. Wade Comparative Fault and Product Liability in Indiana Henry Woods Registered Professional Reporters JOHN E. 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It is keeping pace with the needs of the legal profession. For more information about WESTLAW, contact your local West Sales Representative, or call us at: 1-800-328-9352 (or collect at 612-228-2973). Keeping Pace With The Legal Mind As reported in DATAPRO On-Line Services News, July 1984, and DATAPRO Directory of On-Line Services, published by DATAPRO Research Corporation, Delran, NJ 08075. Indiana Lai;i^ Revieir VOLUME 17 1984 Number 3 Copyright " 1984 by the Trustees of Indiana University TABLE OF CONTENTS Symposium on Indiana's Comparative Fault Act The Indiana Comparative Fault Act at First (Lingering) Glance Lawrence P. Wilkins 687 L Introduction 687 II. General Features of the Act 688 A. Operation of the Apportionment Principle 688 B. Section 1: Coverage 692 C. Section 2: "Fault" Defined 692 D. Sections 3 and 4: Statement of the Comparative Fault Principle 697 E. Sections 5, 6, and 9: Controlling the Jury 701 F. Section 7: Contribution and Indemnity 718 G. Section 8: Government Entity and Public Employee Exceptions 729 H. Section 10: The 'Empty Chair Defense" 732 /. Section 11: Coordination Between the Comparative Fault and Medical Malpractice Acts 739 J. Section 12: The Diminution of Subrogration Claims, Liens, and Claims 740 III. Comparative Fault and Assumed/Incurred Risk . . . 756 A. Introduction and Background 756 B. "Reasonable" and "Unreasonable" Assumption of Risk Under the Uniform Act 760 C. The Indiana Act's Definition 769 D. Problems of Interpretation Raised by the Indiana Act's Language 779 E. Appraisal of the Competing Interpretations 785 Volume 17 Summer 1984 Number 3 The INDIANA LAW REVIEW (ISSN 0090-4198) is the property of Indiana University and is published quarterly by the Indiana University School of Law—Indianapolis, which assumes complete editorial responsibility therefore. Subscription rates: one year $15.00; foreign $18.50. Back issues are available from Fred B. Rothman & Co., 10368 W. Centennial Rd.. Lit- tleton, Co. 80127. Please notify us one month in advance of any change of address and include both old and neu addresses with zip codes to ensure delivery of all issues. Send all correspondence to Editorial Assistant, Indiana Law Review, Indiana University School of Law— Indianapolis, 735 West New York Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202. Publication office: ""35 West New York Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202. Second class postage paid at Indianapolis, Indiana 46201. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to INDIANA LAW REVIEW, 735 West New York Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202. IV. Plaintiff's Failure to Employ Safety Precautions as "Fault": The Doctrine of Avoidable Consequences and THE Seat Belt Defense 795 V. Some Important Omissions 800 A. Set-Off of Counterclaims 800 B. Last Clear Chance 851 VI. Conclusion 859 Drafting and Legislative History of the Comparative Fault Act Edgar W. Bayliff 863 I. Passage of the Act 863 A. Historical Background 863 B. Key Provisions of the 1983 Bill 864 C Procedural History 865 II. Features of the Act 866 A . Threshold of Fault Required to Preclude Recovery 866 B. Partial Abrogation of Joint and Several Liability Principles 867 C Nonparty Practice or the "Empty Chair" Problem 868 D. Temporary Inclusion of Strict Liability and Breach of Warranty Cases 869 E. Exclusion of State Tort Claims 869 F. Forms of Verdicts 870 III. 1984 Amendments to the Act 873 A. Passage of Senate Bill 419 873 B. Removal of Claims for Strict Liability and Breach of Warranty From the Act 873 C Tactical Considerations Arising From Exclusion of Strict Liability and Breach of Warranty Actions from the Act 873 D. Elimination of ''Primary Defendant" Concept . . . 875 E. Inconsistent Verdicts 876 F. Combined Claims Against Qualified Health Care Pro- viders and Nonhealth Care Providers 876 G. Liens and Claims for Payment of Medical Expenses Sll H. Nonparty Practice 877 IV. Conclusion 879 Indiana's Comparative Fault Law: A Legislator's View Nelson J. Becker 88 1 The Indiana Comparative Fault Act: How Does It Compare With Other Jurisdictions? Debra S. Easterday Thomas V. Easterday 883 I. Introduction 883 II. Overview 883 A. Pure Comparative Negligence 884 B. Modified Comparative Negligence 885 C Slight-Gross Comparative Negligence 888 D. Indiana Comparative Negligence 888 III. Defenses 890 A . Last Clear Chance 891 B. Assumption of Risk 894 IV. Multiple Defendants 897 A. Joint and Several Liability 898 B. Contribution 900 V. Conclusion 901 Comparative Fault and the Nonparty Tortfeasor Leonard E. Eilbacher 903 I. Introduction 903 II. Doctrine of Joint and Several Liability Abolished 906 III. Culpable Nonparties 908 A. The Settling Tortfeasor 908 B. The Inadvertently Omitted Tortfeasor 912 C. The Intentionally Omitted Tortfeasor 912 D. The Judgment-Proof Tortfeasor 913 E. The Unavoidable Tortfeasor Beyond Jurisdiction . 915 IV. Tortfeasors Who Cannot be Nonparties 916 A. The Immune Tortfeasor 916 B. The Employer 917 V. The "Name" Requirement 920 VI. Pleading, Amendment, and Discovery 921 VII. Conclusion 922 The Impact of Comparative Fault in Indiana Roger L. Pardieck 925 I. Introduction 925 II. The Scope of Indiana's Comparative Fault Act . . . 927 III. Causation Under a Comparative Fault System .... 929 A. Current Status of the Law 929 B. The Impact of Comparative Fault on Causation . 931 IV. Comparative Fault's Impact on Other Doctrines . . 939 A. Last Clear Chance 939 B. No-Duty Rules 942 \'. Conclusion 954 Comparative Negligence in Indiana: A Unique Statute That Will Reshape the Law Victor E. Schwartz 957 1. Introduction 957 II. Overview of Indiana's Comparative Fault Act .... 958 III. The Nature of Indiana's Comparative Fault 959 IV. The Intersection With the Law of Product Liability 961 V. The Interface Among the 50% Rule, Joint and Several Liability, and Contribution and Indemnity 963 VI. Strategic Considerations for the Advocate 966 VII. Conclusion 967 Fairness: A Comparative Analysis of the Indiana and Uniform Comparative Fault Acts David Randolph Smith John W. Wade 969 I . Overview 970 A. Abolition of Joint and Several Liability 973 B. The Fault-Free Plaintiff 976 C Nonparties and the Apportionment Process 978 D. Contribution and Indemnity 982 E. The Effect of Settlement 983 F. Set-Off 985 G. Definition of Fault 988 II. Effect of Comparative Fault on Other Tort Doctrines 990 A. Punitive Damages 991 B. Last Clear Chance 991 C. Imputed Negligence 991 D. Worker's Compensation 992 III. Procedural Questions 993 A. Basis for Comparison 993 B. Multiple or Single Actions and Joinder of Parties 994 C. Burden of Proof 995 IV. Conclusion 996 Comparative Fault and Product Liability in Indiana Henry Woods 999 I. Introduction 999 II. Product Negligence Cases 1000 III. Strict Liability in Indiana 1001 A. Defenses to Strict Liability 1004 B. Strict Liability and Economic Loss 1013 IV. Warranty 1015 V. Fraud and Deceit 1017 VI. Indemnity 1017 VII. The Indiana Comparative Fault Act 1018 A. Definition of Fault 1018 B. Comparative Fault Systems 1019 C. Multiple Parties 1020 D. Settlements 1023 VIII. Multiple Theories 1024 IX. Conclusion 1027 Appendix 1029 Please enter my subscription to the INDIANA LAW REVIEW NAME ADDRESS Enclosed is $. Bill me for _ Mail to: for subscriptions. subscriptions. INDIANA LAW REVIEW INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW -INDIANAPOLIS 735 West New York Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 Subscription Rates (one year): Regular, $15.00; Foreign, $18.50; Survey, $9.00 Indiana LaiKv Revieiv Volume 17 1984 Harry Todd Editor-in-Chief Diane Dilger Jones Sharon B. Hearn Articles and Production Note and Development Executive Editors Donna J. Bays-Beinart Steven C. Shockley Kathryn L. Hagenbuch Timothy L. Stewart Articles Editors 1 Mary Terschluse Irwin | Business Editor Jan Carroll Richard L. Randall Sharon L. Hulbert John Sheller Susan Luthra James L. Turner Note and Development Editors \ Michael Anderson DiANNE TONEY McGiLL Donald R. Barrett, Jp Jeffrey Owen Meunier Jeffrey Been Debra Hanley Miller Timothy Bender Glenn Moffett Brian Bosma James P. Moloy Richard Clapp Linda S. Nichols Mark Coy Karon E. Perkins Sheryl a. Donnella Susan Rivas Donna Hilton Fisher Sandra Rothbaum G. Frederick Glass Brian D. Salwowski Debra Hinshaw James N. Scahill Michael C. Ice P. Jayne Stephens Steven H. Johnsonbaugh Philip Thompson | Lu Carole King Donald John Verplancken Janice E. Kreuscher Mary Hamilton Watts Gregory L. Laker Cheryl Judge Wendling - Associate Editors Paul J. Galanti Faculty Advisor Mary J. Cler Editorial Assistant Indiana University School of Law—Indianapolis 1983-84 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS AND FACULTY Administrative Officers John W. Ryan. Ph.D.. President of the Univeri^ity Glenn W. Irwin, Jr.. M.D., Vice-President Gerald L. Bepko, LL.M., Dean G. Kent Frandsen, J.D., Associate Dean for Student Affairs Jeffrey W. Grove, J.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Faculty Tho.nl-xs B. Alllngton, Professor. B.S.. University ofNebraska, 196I^;J.D., 1966; LL.M., New York University, 197 L Edward P. Archer, Professor. B.M.E., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1958; J.D., Georgetown University, 1962; LL.M., 196^. James F. Bailey, III., Associate Professor and Director of Law Library. A.B., Univer- sity of Mighigan, 1961; J.D., 1964; M.A.L.S., 1970. Gerald L. Bepko, Dean and Professor. B.S., Northern Illinois University, 1962; J.D., IITlChicago-Kent College of Law, 1965; LL.M., Yale University 1972. Clyde Harrison Crockett, Professor. A.B., University of Texas, 1962; J.D., 1965; LL.M.. University of London (The London School of Economics and Political Science), 1972. Debra a. Falender, Associate Professor. A.B., Mount Holyoke College, 1979; J.D., In- diana University, 1975. WA^DkD.Yo?>i:er. Assistant Professor. A.B., University ofMichigan, 1973; J.D., Georgetown University, 1976. G. Kent Frandsen, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Associate Professor. B.S., Bradley University, 1950; J.D., Indiana University, 1965. David A. Funk, Professor. A.B., College of Wooster, 1949; J.D., Case Western Reserve University, 1951; M.A., The Ohio State University 1968; LL.M., Case Western Reserve University, 1972; LL.M., Columbia University, 1973. Paul J. Galanti, Professor. A.B., Bowdoin College, 1960; J.D., University of Chicago, 1963. Helen P. Garfield, Professor. B.S.J., Northwestern University, 1945; J.D., University of Colorado, 1967. Harold Greenberg, Associate Professor. A.B., Temple University, 1959; J.D., Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, 1962. Jeffrey W. Grove, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor, A.B., Juniata College, 1965; J.D., George Washington University, 1969. William F. Harvey, Carl M. Gray Professor of Law. A.B., University ofMissouri, 1954; J.D., Georgetown University, 1959; LL.M., 1961. W. William Hodes, Associate Professor. A.B., Harvard College, 1966; J.D., Rutgers, Newark, 1969. Lawrence A. Jegen, III., Thomas F. Sheehan Professor of Tax Law and Policy, 1982. A.B., Beloit College, 1956; J.D., The University of Michigan 1959; M.B.A., 1960; LL.M., New York University, 1963. Henry C. Karlson, Associate Professor. A.B., University of Illinois, 1965; J.D., 1968; LL.M., 1977. William Andrew Kerr, Professor. A.B., West Virginia University, 1955; J.D., 1957; LL.M., Harvard University, 1958; B.D., Duke University, 1968. Walter W. Krieger, Associate Professor. A.B., Bellarmine College, 1959; J.D., Univer- sity of Louisville, 1962; LL.M., George Washington University, 1969. David P. Leonard, Assistant Professor. B.A., University of California at San Diego; 1974; JD., UCLA School of Law, 1977. William E. Marsh, Professor. B.S., University of Nebraska, 1965; J.D., 1958. Susanah M. Mead, Assistant Professor. B.A., Smith College, 1969; J.D., Indiana Univer- sity, 1976. Mary H. Mitchell, AssistaM Professor. A.B., Butler University, 1975; J.D., Cornell Law School, 1978. Rita M. Novak, A^siHi,an( Pro/r^.s.sor. B.A., Albion, C'olhge, J 972; J.I)., /)e Paul, Univer- sity, 1978; LL.M., Columbia University, 1981. David R. Papke, Assistant Professor. A.B., Ha/rmird College, 1969; J.D., Yale Law School, 1973; M.A. in American Studies, Yale University, 1973; M. Phil., inAm/irica,nSt;ij/li/iS, The University of Michigan, 1980; Ph.D., 1983. Melvin C. Poland, Cleon H. Foust Professor of Lavj, 1982. B.S., Ka,nsas State Univer- sity, 19U0 LL.B., Washburn University, 19Jf9; LL.M., The University of Michiga/n, 1950. Ronald W. Polston, Professor. B.S., Eastern Illinois University, 1953; LL.B., Univer- sity of Illinois, 1958. Bryan M. Schneider, Assistant Professor. B.A., Amherst College, 1973; J.D., Univer- sity of South Carolina School of Law, 1976; LL.M., Yale Law School, 1980. Kenneth M. Stroud, Professor. A.B., Indiana University, 1958; J.D., 1961. James W. Torke, Professor. B.S. University of Wisconsin, 1963; J.D., 1968. James Patrick White, Professor (on special assignment). A.B., University oflovja, 1953; J.D., 1956; LL.M., George Washington University, 1959. Lawrence P. Wilkins, Professor. B.A., The Ohio State University, 1968; J.D., Capital University Law School, 1973; LL.M., University of Texas School of Law, 1974. Harold R. Woodard, Professorial Lecturer. B.S., Harvard University, 1933; J. D., 1936. William J. Woodward, Associate Professor. B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1968; J.D., Rutgers-Camden, 1975. Emeriti Agnes P. Barrett, Associate Professor Emeritus. B.S., Indiana University, 1942; J.D., 1964. Cleon H. Foust, Professor Emeritus. A.B., Wabash College, 1928; J.D., University of Arizona, 1933. John S. Grimes, Professor Jurisprudence Emeritus. A.B., Indiana University, 1929; J.D., 1931. R. Bruce Townsend, CleonH. Foust Professor ofLaw Emeritus. A.B., CoeCollege, 1938; J.D., University of Iowa, 1940. Legal Writing Instructors DanielB. DovENBARGER,Leciitrer. 5.A., Wabash College, 1979; M.A. , Vanderbilt University , 1981; J.D.. Indiana University, 1983. Pamela P. Price, Lecturer. B.A., North Carolina State University, 1977; J.D. Val- paraiso University, 1980. Jacklyn Leas Ringhausen, Lecturer. A.B., Indiana University, 1976; J.D., Indiana University, 1979. Joan Ruhtenberg, Lecturer. B.A., Mississippi Universityfor Women, 1959; J.D. , Indiana University, 1980. Law Library Staff Wendell E. Johnting, Technical Services Librarian. A.B., Taylor University, 1974; M.L.S., Indiana University, 1975. Laura Kimberly, Acquisitions!Serials Librarian. B.A., Flordia State University. 1977; M.S., 1980. Constance Matts, Associate Librarian. B.A., 1973, Case Western Reserve University; MSLS, 1974, Case Western Reserve University; MAIR, 1976, Creighton University. Christine L. Stevens, Reference Librarian. A.B., Western Michigan University, 1970; M.L.S., Indiana University, 1971. Kathy J. Welker, Assistant Director. A.B., Huntington College, 1969; M.L.S. Indiana University, 1972.