| State | Joint and Several Liability Abolished? | Apportion Fault of Non-parties? | Compare Negligent and Intentional Conduct? |
| Alabama | NO Looney v. Davis , 721 So.2d 152, Supreme Court of Alabama , 1998 | NO | UNDECIDED |
| Alaska | YES Alaska Stat. §09.17.080(d) | YES Alaska Stat. §09.17.080(c), Evans v. State, 56 P.3d. 1046, Supreme Court of Alaska , 2002 | UNDECIDED Alaska Stat. §09.17.900, Kodiak Island Borough v. Roe, 63 P.3d. 1009, Supreme Court of Alaska , 2003 |
| Arizona | YES With the exception of tortfeasors acting in concert to commit an intentional act Ariz.Rev.Stat. §12-2506 | YES Ariz.Rev.Stat. §12-2506(b) | YES Hutcherson v. City of Phoenix , 961 P.2d. 449, Supreme Court of Arizona , 1996 |
| Arkansas | YES With the exception of parties acting in concert to commit an intentional act ARK. CODE §16-55-201 (The Civil Justice Reform Act of 2003) | NO ARK. CODE §16-64-122(a), E-ton Dynamics Indus. Corp. v. Hall, 115 S.W.3d. 816, Court of Appeals of Arkansas , Division 4, 2003 | UNDECIDED Arkansas code broadly defines "fault" under §16-64-122(c), FDIC v. DeLoitte & Touche, 834 F. Supp. 1155 (E.D. Ark. 1993) |
| California | YES Only in cases of personal injury, property damage, and wrongful death where the remedy sought is "non-economic" as defined by the statute. CAL. CIV. CODE §1431.2 | YES Taylor v. Crane, Inc., 6 Cal. Rptr. 3d. 695, Court of Appeals of California, First Appellate District, Division Four, 2003. DaFonte v. Up-Right, 828 P.2d. 140, Supreme Court of California , 1992. | YES Weinderfeller v. Star & Garter, 2 Cal. Rptr. 2d. 14, Court of Appeals of California , 1991. Rosh v. Cave Imaging Systems, Inc., 32 Cal. Rptr. 2d. 136, Court of Appeals of California, 6th District, 1994. |
| Colorado | YES Only in cases of death or injury to person or property with the exception of parties acting in concert with one another COLO. REV. STAT. §13-21-111.5 | YES COLO. REV. STAT. §13-21-11.5(4) | YES Slack v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, 5 P.3d. 280, Supreme Court of Colorado , 2000. |
| Connecticut | YES Only in cases of personal injury, property damage, and wrongful death CONN. GEN. STAT. §52-572h | NO Cannot apportion fault to unidentified parties. Any individual whom fault will be apportioned to must be added under CONN. GEN. STAT. §52-102(b), which essentially makes him/her a party to the case. Eskin v. Castiglia, 753 A.2d. 927, Supreme Court of Connecticut , 2000. Collins v. Colonial Penn. Ins. Co., 778 A.2d 899, Supreme Court of Connecticut , 2001. | NO CONN. GEN. STAT. §52-572h(o) |
| Delaware | NO DEL. CODE, title 10, §6301-6303 (Uniform Contribution Among Tortfeasors Law) Hall v. Gunzl, 723 A.2d. 385, (Del. Super. 1998). | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED |
| District of Columbia | NO Logan v. Providence Hosp. Inc., 778 A.2d. 275, (DC App. 2001) | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED |
| Florida | YES Established a multi-tiered limitation on the rule of joint and several liability based on whether or not a plaintiff is or is without fault. Does not apply to pollution or intentional tort cases. FLA. STAT., title XLV, §768.81. | YES Lagueux v. Union Carbide Corp., 861 So. 2d. 87, Court of Appeals of Florida, 4th District, 2003. Fault can not be apportioned in cases of vicarious liability. Suarez v. Gonzalez, 820 So. 2d. 342, Court of Appeals of Florida, 4th District, 2002. | NO D'Amario v. Ford Motor Co., 806 So. 2d. 424, Supreme Court of Florida , 2001. |
| Georgia | YES Only applicable when plaintiff is some degree at fault. GA. CODE (unannotated) §51-12-33 | NO Schriever v. Maddox, 578 S.E.2d. 210, Court of Appeals of Georgia, 3rd Division, 2003. | UNDECIDED GA. CODE (unannotated) §51-12-33 |
| Hawaii | YES Exceptions include economic injury or death, intentional torts, pollution, toxic accidents, asbestos, aircraft or motor vehicles, product liability. HAWAII REV. STAT. §663-10.9, §663-10.5 (applies to the government) | UNDECIDED HAWAII REV. STAT. §663-31 | UNDECIDED HAWAII REV. STAT. §663-10.9 |
| Idaho | YES Only applicable to parties "acting in concert or when a person was acting as an agent or servant of another party." Idaho Code § 6-803 (Michie 2004) | YES Fault can be apportioned in comparative negligence cases. Idaho Code § 6-802 (Michie 1992) Beitzel v. City of Coeur d'Atene, 121 Idaho 709, 713 (1992). | YES For joint and several liability, the plaintiff's negligence will be compared with the intentional or reckless conduct of parties that have acted in concert. Idaho Code § 6-803 (Michie 2004). |
| Illinois | NO Joint and several liability applies to death, bodily injury, and property damage in product liability and negligence cases. 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/2-1117 (2004). For any other damages, defendants less than 25% at fault are severally liable, and defendants more than 25% at fault are joint and severally liable. | YES For contributory negligence cases the liability of nonparties can be introduced to determine if the plaintiff is liable (and what that liability is), but it cannot reduce the liability of any defendant. Smith v. Central Ill. Pub. Serv. Co., 531 N.E.2d 51, 60 ( Ill. App. 1988). | NO Hillis v. Bridgeolew Little League Ass'n, 713 N.E.2d 616 (Ill. App. 1st 1999); Cf. Burke v. Rothchild's Liquor Mart, 593 N.E.2d 522 ( Ill. 1992) |
| Indiana | YES Ind. Code Ann. § 34-51-2-8 (Michie 2004) | YES Ind. Code Ann. § 34-51-2-8(1) The court's verdict form requires that the jury provide the percent every party is at fault. Ind. Code Ann. § 34-51-2-11 (Michie 2004). | UNDECIDED Not specified in Ind. Code Ann. § 34-51-2 (Michie 2004). |
| Iowa | YES But limited to defendants found to be more than 50% at fault for the economic damages of the plaintiff. Iowa Code Ann. § 668.4 (2003). No joint and several liability for non-economic damages. Id. | LIMITED In comparative fault cases fault may be assessed for people released from liability in deciding the percent of fault of all other parties included in the lawsuit, as well as, the amount the plaintiffs are entitled to based on these determinations. Iowa Code Ann. § 668.2 (2003). | UNDECIDED Ann. §§ 668.3, 668.4 (2003). |
| Kansas | YES Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-258a(b) (2003) Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-238a(d) (2003) | YES Mathis v. TF&Y, 751 P.2d. 136 ( Kan. 1988) | NO Maunz v. Perales, 76 P.3d 1027, 1033 ( Kan. 2003) |
| Kentucky | YES Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 411.182 (Michie 2004) | YES Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 411.182 (Michie 2004) | UNDECIDED |
| Louisiana | YES Except when a party has acted in concert with another party to commit willful or intentional acts. La. Code Civ. Proc. Ann. art. 2324 (West 2004). La. Code Civ. Proc. Ann. art. 1812 (West 2004) | YES La. Code Civ. Proc. Ann. art. 1812 (West 2004). Williams v. City of Marksville , 839 So. 2d 1129, 1132 ( La. App. 2003) | YES Veavey v. Elmwood Plantations Ass'n, Ltd., 625 So. 2d 675 (La. Ct. App. 1993), aff'd, 650 So. 2d 712, 720 ( La. 1994) However, intentional and negligent is determined on a case by case basis |
| Maine | NO 14 Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 156 (West 2003). However, a party may ask the court to give the jury instructions to calculate the percentage of fault for each defendant. Id. | NO Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Tit. 14 § 156 (West 2003) | UNDECIDED |
| Maryland | NO Owens-Illinois v. Armstrong, 591 A.2d 544, 559 ( Md. App. 1991) | UNDECIDED Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-1404 (2003) | UNDECIDED |
| Massachusetts | NO However defendants who are jointly liable are given the right of contribution if the defendant pays more than his portion of the judgment. Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 231B § 1 (2004). The excess paid is given a right of contribution when the other defendants pay their individual portions, as long as those defendants do not pay more than their share. Id. | UNDECIDED Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 231B § 1 (2004) | NO In applying Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 231B § 1 (2004) intentional conduct can't be compared to negligent conduct. Flood v. Southland Corp., 616 N.E.2d 1068, 1071 (Mass Sup. Jud. Ct. 1993). |
| Michigan | YES Limited to medical malpractice suits when there is a no-fault plaintiff. Mich. Stat. Ann. § 600.6304 (Michie 2004). | YES Yes, in the sense that fault is calculated for parties released from liability (including nonparties). Mich. Stat. Ann. § 600.6304 (Michie 2004). When the judgment is entered by the court it does not include the fault of the released parties. Id. | UNDECIDED Mich. Stat. Ann. § 600.6304 (Michie 2004). |
| Minnesota | NO Although limited to parties found to be more than 50% at fault, parties acting in concert, intentional tortfeasors, and parties liable for public health or environmental or ordinance violations. Minn. Stat. § 604.02 (2003) | YES Juries must think about whether any and all parties are at fault, including nonparties. Johnson v. Niagara Mach. & Tool Works, 666 F.2d 1223, 1226 ( Minn. 1981). | NO Intentional torts do not apply for a determination of comparative negligence. Florenzano v. Olson, 387 N.W. 2d 168, 175 ( Minn. 1986). |
| Mississippi | NO But modifies the rule of joint and several liability such that it applies only to the extent necessary to pay injured party 50% of recoverable damages Miss.Code.Ann. § 85-5-7(2) | UNDECIDED | NO Whitehead v. Food Max of Mississippi, Inc. 163 F.3d 265 (5th Cir. 1998) |
| Missouri | NO Bars application of the rule in the recovery of all damages when a plaintiff is assessed a portion of the fault. Mo.Stat. § 537.067 | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED Mo.Stat. § 537.067 |
| Montana | NO Except when defendant found 50% or less at fault Mont.Code Anno., § 27-1-705 (2003) | YES Mont.Code Anno., § 27-1-705 (2003) | UNDECIDED |
| Nebraska | YES Except when defendants act in concert, then joint and several liability applies for economic and non-economic damages | UNDECIDED | NO Brandon v. County of Richardson , 2001 Neb. LEXIS 74, 261 Neb 636, 624 N.W.2d 604 (2001) |
| Nevada | YES Except for actions involving intentional torts or defendants acting in concert Nev.Rev.Stat. § 41.141 (4) (5) (1991) | UNDECIDED Nev.Rev.Stat. § 41.141 (4) (5) (1991) | UNDECIDED Nev.Rev.Stat. § 41.141 (4) (5) (1991) |
| New Hampshire | YES For defendants found to be 50% or less at fault N.H. Rev.Stat.Ann. § 507:7-e RSA 507:7-e (2003) | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED Nev.Rev.Stat. § 41.141 (4) (5) (1991) |
| New Jersey | YES Established 60% threshold for joint and several liability for both economic and non-economic damages N.J. Stat.Ann § 2A:15-5.3 and N.J. Stat.Ann § 59:1-1 to 12-3 | LIMITED Blazovic v. Andrich 590 A.2d 222 (N.J. 1991) | YES N.J. Stat.Ann § 59:9-3.1 and Frugis v. Bracigliano, 177 N.J. 250, 827 A.2d 1040 |
| New Mexico | YES When the plaintiff is found to be partially liable N.M. Stat.Ann. § 41-3A-1 (2004) Toxic torts are an exception | YES N.M. Stat.Ann. § 41-3A-1 (2004) | YES Reichert v. Atler 875 P.2d. 384 |
| New York | NO Although defendants found 50% or less at fault are only severally liable for noneconomic damages. Does not apply to defendant's actions that are in reckless disregard of the rights of others and in actions involving motor vehicle, toxic torts, intentional torts, and product liability Boyd v. Trent, 297 A.D.2d. 301. | YES N.Y. C.P.L.R. 1601 | YES Roseboro v. New York City Transit Authority, 2001 W.L. 869643 |
| North Carolina | NO N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1B-7 (2004) State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Holland . 324 N.C. 466 Harlow v. Voyager Communications V. 348 N.C. 568 | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED |
| North Dakota | YES Except for intentional torts, defendants acting in concert, and product liability cases | YES N.D. Cent. Code § 32-03.2-.02 (1976 & Supp. 1993) | UNDECIDED |
| Ohio | YES When plaintiff is assessed some measure of fault OH.Rev.Code 2307.22 defendants are severally liable for non-economic damages | NO Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2315.19 and Eberly v. A-P Controls, Inc., 61 Ohio St. 3d 27 | NO Fulwiler v. Schneider, 662 N.E. 2d 82 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995) |
| Oklahoma | NO Joint tortfeasors are jointly and severally liable when the recovering claimant is without fault Boyles v. Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., 619 P.2d 613 (Okla. 1980); Anderson v. Donoghue, 677 P.2d 648 ( Okla. 1983). | NO Paul v. N.L. Industries, 624 P.2d. 68 ( Okla 1981) | NO Graham, 847 P.2d at 345 |
| Oregon | YES ORS § 18.485 (2003) Whether defendant is 15 % or more at fault is measured only against other parties to action | NO Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 18.470 and Brown v. Washington County , 163 Or App 362, 987 P2d 1254 (1999) | NO Hampton Tree Farms, Inc. v. Jewett, 158 Ore. App. 376 |
| Pennsylvania | NO Baker v. AC&S, Inc., 1999 PA Super 65 and 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8322 | UNDECIDED | NO 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 7102 |
| Rhode Island | NO R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4.1 and Cooney v. Molis, 640 A.2d 526 (R.I. 1994) | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED |
| South Carolina | NO Rowrk v. Selvey, 164 S.E. 2d 909 | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED |
| South Dakota | NO S.D. Codified Laws § 15-8-15.1 (2003), although any party who is allocated less than fifty percent of the total fault allocated to all the parties may not be jointly liable for more than twice the percentage of fault allocated to that party. | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED |
| Tennessee | YES McIntyre V. Balentine, 833 S.W. 2d 52 (1992) | YES McIntyre V. Balentine, 833 S.W. 2d 52 (1992) | NO Turner v. Jordan , 957 S.W.2d 815 (1997) |
| Texas | YES Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.013 (2004) | LIMITED Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.013 (2004) | UNDECIDED |
| Utah | YES Utah Code Ann. § 78-27-38 (2004) | YES Utah Code Ann. § 78-27-39 (2004); Bishop v. GenTec, Inc., 2002 UT 36, 48 P.3d 218, 2002 | UNDECIDED Cortez v. University Mall Shopping Ctr., 941 F. Supp. 1096 and Field v. Boyer Co., L.C., 952 P.2d 1078; Utah Code Ann. § 78-27-37 |
| Vermont | YES Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 1036 | UNDECIDED Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 1036 | UNDECIDED |
| Virginia | NO Bartholomew v. Bartholomew, 353 S.E.2d 752 (1987) | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED |
| Washington | YES Except when dealing with hazardous waste, generic products, and interference in contracts; Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §4.22.070 (1994) | LIMITED Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §4.22.070 (1994) | NO Welch v. Southland Corp., 952 P.2d. 162 (1998) |
| West Virginia | NO Except in cases of medical negligence suits where the defendant is less than 25% liable; W.Va. Code §55-7b-9 (1994) | UNDECIDED | UNDECIDED |
| Wisconsin | NO Brander ex re. Brander v. Allstate Ins. Co., 512 N.W.2d 753 (1994) | YES For Comparative negligence determination only Connar v. West Shore Equipment, 227 N.W.2d 660 (1975) | UNDECIDED |
| Wyoming | YES Wyo.Stat. § 1-1-109(e) | UNDECIDED | YES Wyo.Stat. § 1-1-109(e) and Board of County COmm'rs of Tetan County Sheriff's Department v. Bassett, 8 P.3d 1079 (2000) |