(740 ILCS 100/0.01)

(from Ch. 70, par. 300)

Sec. 0.01.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the

Joint Tortfeasor Contribution Act.

(Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)

(740 ILCS 100/1)

(from Ch. 70, par. 301)

Sec. 1.

This Act applies to causes of action arising on or after March 1, 1978.

(Source: P.A. 81‑601.)

(740 ILCS 100/2)

(from Ch. 70, par. 302)

Sec. 2.

Right of Contribution.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, where 2 or more persons are subject to liability in tort arising out of the same injury to person or property, or the same wrongful death, there is a right of contribution among them, even though judgment has not been entered against any or all of them.

(b) The right of contribution exists only in favor of a tortfeasor who has paid more than his pro rata share of the common liability, and his total recovery is limited to the amount paid by him in excess of his pro rata share. No tortfeasor is liable to make contribution beyond his own pro rata share of the common liability.

(c) When a release or covenant not to sue or not to enforce judgment is given in good faith to one or more persons liable in tort arising out of the same injury or the same wrongful death, it does not discharge any of the other tortfeasors from liability for the injury or wrongful death unless its terms so provide but it reduces the recovery on any claim against the others to the extent of any amount stated in the release or the covenant, or in the amount of the consideration actually paid for it, whichever is greater.

(d) The tortfeasor who settles with a claimant pursuant to paragraph (c) is discharged from all liability for any contribution to any other tortfeasor.

(e) A tortfeasor who settles with a claimant pursuant to paragraph (c) is not entitled to recover contribution from another tortfeasor whose liability is not extinguished by the settlement.

(f) Anyone who, by payment, has discharged in full or in part the liability of a tortfeasor and has thereby discharged in full his obligation to the tortfeasor, is subrogated to the tortfeasor's right of contribution. This provision does not affect any right of contribution nor any right of subrogation arising from any other relationship.

(Source: P.A. 84‑1308.)

(740 ILCS 100/3.5)

(This Section was added by P.A. 89‑7, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 3.5.

Contribution against the plaintiff's employer.

(a) If a tortfeasor brings an action for contribution against the plaintiff's employer, the employer's liability for contribution shall not exceed the amount of the employer's liability to the plaintiff under the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act. The tortfeasor seeking contribution from the plaintiff's employer is not entitled to recover money from the employer. The tortfeasor shall receive a credit against his or her liability to the plaintiff in an amount equal to the amount of contribution, if any, for which the employer is found to be liable to that tortfeasor, even if the amount exceeds the employer's liability under the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act.

(b) This Section does not apply in any action in which the plaintiff's employer has no right of reimbursement from the plaintiff under subsection (b) of Section 5 of the Workers' Compensation Act or subsection (b) of Section 5 of the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act.

(c) This amendatory Act of 1995 applies only to causes of action accruing on or after its effective date.

(Source: P.A. 89‑7, eff. 3‑9‑95

.)

(740 ILCS 100/3)

(from Ch. 70, par. 303)

Sec. 3.

Amount of Contribution.

The pro rata share of each tortfeasor shall be determined in accordance with his relative culpability. However, no person shall be required to contribute to one seeking contribution an amount greater than his pro rata share unless the obligation of one or more of the joint tortfeasors is uncollectable. In that event, the remaining tortfeasors shall share the unpaid portions of the uncollectable obligation in accordance with their pro rata liability.

If equity requires, the collective liability of some as a group shall constitute a single share.

(Source: P.A. 81‑601.)

(740 ILCS 100/4)

(from Ch. 70, par. 304)

(Text of Section WITH the changes made by P.A. 89‑7, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 4.

Rights of Plaintiff Unaffected.

Except as provided in Section 3.5 of this Act, a plaintiff's right to recover the full amount of his judgment from any one or more defendants subject to liability in tort for the same injury to person or property, or for wrongful death, is not affected by the provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 89‑7, eff. 3‑9‑95

.)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89‑7, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 4.

Rights of Plaintiff Unaffected.

A plaintiff's right to recover the full amount of his judgment from any one or more defendants subject to liability in tort for the same injury to person or property, or for wrongful death, is not affected by the provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 81‑601.)

(740 ILCS 100/5)

(from Ch. 70, par. 305)

(Text of Section WITH the changes made by P.A. 89‑7, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 5.

Enforcement.

Other than in actions for healing art malpractice, a cause of action for contribution among joint tortfeasors is not required to be asserted during the pendency of litigation brought by a claimant and may be asserted by a separate action before or after payment of a settlement or judgment in favor of the claimant, or may be asserted by counterclaim or by third‑party complaint in a pending action.

This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to causes of action filed on or after its effective date.

(Source: P.A. 89‑7, eff. 3‑9‑95

.)

(Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89‑7, which has been held unconstitutional)

Sec. 5.

Enforcement.

A cause of action for contribution among joint tortfeasors may be asserted by a separate action before or after payment, by counterclaim or by third‑party complaint in a pending action.

(Source: P.A. 81‑601.)