Proposition Summary
MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS TORT DAMAGE LIABILITY. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Under existing law, tort damages awarded a plaintiff in court against multiple defendants may all be collected from one defendant. A defendant paying all the damages may seek equitable reimbursement from other defendants. Under this amendment, this rule continues to apply to "economic damages," defined as objectively verifiable monetary losses, including medical expenses, earnings loss, and others specified; however, for "non-economic damages," defined as subjective, non-monetary losses, including pain, suffering, and others specified, each defendant's responsibility to pay plaintiff's damages would be limited in direct proportion to that defendant's percentage of fault. Summary of Legislative Analyst's estimate of net state and local government fiscal impact: Under current law, governments often pay non-economic damages that exceed their shares of fault. Approval of this measure would result in substantial savings to state and local governments. Savings could amount to several millions of dollars in any one year, although they would vary significantly from year to year.
Proposition Number
51
Year
1986
Document Type
Proposition
Pass/Fail
Pass
Popular Vote Results
Y: 2875382; A: 62.1; N: 1753244; B: 37.9
Election Type
Primary
Proposition Type
Initiative statutory
Relevant Case
GMC v. Doupnik: 1 F.3d 862, 9th Cir. 1993; Martin v. United States: 984 F.2d 1033, 9th Cir. 1993; DFS Secured Healthcare Receivables Trust II v. Willow Care, No. C 97-02792: 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21974, N.D. Cal. 1998; In re Air Crash Disaster Near Cerritos on August 31, 1986, No. CV 88-1230-RMT, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3931, N.D. Cal. 1994; In re Piper Aircraft: 792 F. Supp. 1189, N.D. Cal. 1992; Martin v. United States: 779 F. Supp. 1242, N.D. Cal. 1991; California Republican Party v. Mercier: 652 F. Supp. 928, C.D. Cal. 1986; In re Profile: 216 Bankr. Colod. 290: 15 Colo Bankr. Ct. Rep. 104, 1998 1998; Buttram v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp.: 16 Cal. 4th 520: 941 P.2d 71: 66 Cal. Rptr. 2d 438, 1997; Richards v. Owens-Illinois: 14 Cal. 4th 985: 928 P.2d 1181: 60 Cal. Rptr. 2d 103, 1997; Rutherford v. Owens-Illinois: 16 Cal. 4th 953: 941 P.2d 1203: 67 Cal. Rptr. 2d 16, 1997; DaFonte v. Up-Right, Inc.: 2 Cal. 4th 593: 828 P.2d 140: 7 Cal. Rptr. 2d 238, 1992; Mary M. v. City of Los Angeles: 54 Cal. 3d 202: 814 P.2d 1341: 285 Cal. Rptr. 99, 1991; Tapia v. Superior Ct. of Tulare County: 53 Cal. 3d 282: 807 P.2d 434: 279 Cal. Rptr. 592, 1991; Kizer v. Hanna: 48 Cal. 3d 1: 767 P.2d 679: 255 Cal. Rptr. 412, 1989; Evangelatos v. Superior Ct. of Los Angeles County: 44 Cal. 3d 1188: 753 P.2d 585: 246 Cal. Rptr. 629, 1988; Aetna Health Plans of Cal., Inc. v. Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified Sch. Dist.: 72 Cal. App. 4th 1175: 85 Cal. Rptr. 2d 672, 1999; Ehret v. Congoleum Corp.: 87 Cal. Rptr. 2d 363, 1999; McComber v. Wells: 72 Cal. App. 4th 512: 85 Cal. Rptr. 2d 376, 1999; McComber v. Wells: 70 Cal. App. 4th 596: 82 Cal. Rptr. 2d 780, 1999; Overly v. Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc., A077665: 1999 Cal. App. LEXIS 749, 1999; Arena v. Owens Corning: 63 Cal. App. 4th 1178: 74 Cal. Rptr. 2d 580, 1998; Davis v. Wood-Mizer Prods.: 67 Cal. App. 4th 259: 78 Cal. Rptr. 2d 870, 1998; Landau v. Superior Ct. of San Francisco: 60 Cal. App. 4th 940: 71 Cal. Rptr. 2d 54, 1998; Mitchell v. Asbestos Corp.: 62 Cal. App. 4th 200: 73 Cal. Rptr. 2d 11, 1998; Mosier v. Southern Cal. Physicians Ins. Exch.: 63 Cal. App. 4th 1022: 74 Cal. Rptr. 2d 550, 1998; Richmond v. A.P. Green Indus.: 66 Cal. App. 4th 878: 78 Cal. Rptr. 2d 356, 1998; Rosales v. Thermex-Thermatron, Inc.: 67 Cal. App. 4th 187: 78 Cal. Rptr. 2d 861; Rosales v. Thermex-Thermatron, Inc.: 66 Cal. App. 4th 408: 78 Cal. Rptr. 2d 81, 1998; Springmeyer v. Ford Motor Co.: 60 Cal. App. 4th 1541: 71 Cal. Rptr. 2d 190, 1998; Grahn v. Tosco Corp.: 58 Cal. App. 4th 1373: 68 Cal. Rptr. 2d 806, 1997; Jones v. Dutra Constr. Co.: 57 Cal. App. 4th 871: 67 Cal. Rptr. 2d 411, 1997; Mitchell v. Asbestos Corp.: 59 Cal. App. 4th 366: 69 Cal. Rptr. 2d 164, 1997; Moreno v. S.H. Kress & Co.: 54 Cal. App. 4th 782: 63 Cal. Rptr. 2d 191, 1997; Wimberly v. Derby Cycle Corp.: 56 Cal. App. 4th 618: 65 Cal. Rptr. 2d 532, 1997; Zieger v. State: 58 Cal. App. 4th 532: 68 Cal. Rptr. 2d 39, 1997; Jenkins v. T & N PLC: 45 Cal. App. 4th 1224: 53 Cal. Rptr. 2d 642, 1996; Kellogg v. Asbestos Corp.: 41 Cal. App. 4th 1397: 49 Cal. Rptr. 2d 256, 1996; Peterson v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp.: 48 Cal. App. 4th 118: 50 Cal. Rptr. 2d 902, 1996; Polensky v. Kyocera Int'l, Inc.: 50 Cal. App. 4th 516: 53 Cal. Rptr. 2d 507, 1996; Scalice v. Performance Cleaning Sys.: 50 Cal. App. 4th 221: 57 Cal. Rptr. 2d 711, 1996; Steinfeld v. Foote-Goldman Proctologic Med. Group: 50 Cal. App. 4th 1542: 58 Cal. Rptr. 2d 371, 1996; Torres v. Xomox Corp.: 49 Cal. App. 4th 1: 56 Cal. Rptr. 2d 455, 1996; Voigts v. Brutoco Eng'g & Constr. Co.: 49 Cal. App. 4th 354: 57 Cal. Rptr. 2d 87, 1996; Buttram v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp.: 47 Cal. App. 4th 648: 39 Cal. Rptr. 2d 703, 1995; Greathouse v. Amcord, Inc.: 35 Cal. App. 4th 831: 41 Cal. Rptr. 2d 561, 1995; People v. Sipe: 36 Cal. App. 4th 468: 42 Cal. Rptr. 2d 266, 1995; Poire v. C.L. Peck/Jones Brothers Constr. Corp.: 39 Cal. App. 4th 1832: 46 Cal. Rptr. 2d 631, 1995; Re-Open Rambla, Inc. v. Board of Supervisors: 39 Cal. App. 4th 1499: 46 Cal. Rptr. 2d 822, 1995; Sparks v. Owens-Illinois: 32 Cal. App. 4th 461: 38 Cal. Rptr. 2d 739, 1995; Whitford v. Swinerton & Walberg Co.: 34 Cal. App. 4th 1054: 40 Cal. Rptr. 2d 688, 1995; Conrad v. Ball Corp.: 24 Cal. App. 4th 439: 29 Cal. Rptr. 2d 441, 1994; Hand Electronics, Inc. v. Snowline Joint Unified Sch. Distr.: 21 Cal. App. 4th 862: 26 Cal. Rptr. 2d 446, 1994; Hernandez v. Badger Constr. Equip. Co.: 28 Cal. App. 4th 1791: 34 Cal. Rptr. 2d 732, 1994; Hoch v. Allied-Signal, Inc.: 24 Cal. App. 4th 48: 29 Cal. Rptr. 2d 615, 1994; Knott v. State of California: 28 Cal. App. 4th 1519: 28 Cal. Rptr. 2d 514, 1994; Pavarud Srithong v. Total Inv. Co.: 23 Cal. App. 4th 721: 28 Cal. Rptr. 2d 672, 1994; Regan Roofing Co. v. Superior Ct.: 21 Cal. App.4th 1685: 27 Cal. Rptr. 2d 62, 1994; Rosh v. Cave Imaging Sys., Inc.: 26 Cal. App. 4th 1225: 32 Cal. Rptr. 2d 136, 1994; Smith v. ACandS: 31 Cal. App. 4th 77: 37 Cal. Rptr. 2d 457, 1994; Vasquez-Garcia v. Vons Cos.: 24 Cal. App. 4th 1218: 30 Cal. Rptr. 2d 142, 1994; Williamson v. Plant Insulation Co.: 23 Cal. App. 4th 1406: 28 Cal. Rptr. 2d 751, 1994; ARA Living Centers - Pacific, Inc. v. Superior Ct., 18 Cal. App. 4th 1556: 23 Cal. Rptr. 2d 224, 1993; C.J.L. Constr., Inc. v. Universal Plumbing: 18 Cal. App. 4th 376, 22 Cal. Rptr. 2d 360, 1993; Coughlin v. Owens-Illinois: 49 Cal. App. 4th 1879: 27 Cal. Rptr. 2d 214, 1993; Curry v. Superior Ct.: 20 Cal. App. 4th 180: 24 Cal. Rptr. 2d 495, 1993; Galvis v. Petito: 13 Cal. App. 4th 551: 16 Cal. Rptr. 560, 1993; Roslan v. Permea: 17 Cal. App. 4th 110: 21 Cal. Rptr. 2d 66, 1993; Walker v. Belvedere: 16 Cal. App. 4th 1663: 20 Cal. Rptr. 2d 773, 1993; Cohen v. General Motors Corp.: 2 Cal. App. 4th 893: 3 Cal. Rptr. 2d 619, 1992; Engle v. Endlich: 9 Cal. App. 4th 1152: 12 Cal. Rptr. 2d 145, 1992; Espinoza v.Machonga: 9 Cal. App. 4th 268: 11 Cal. Rptr. 2d 498, 1992; Everman v. Superior Ct.: 8 Cal. App. 4th 466: 10 Cal. Rptr. 2d 176, 1992; Miller v. Stouffer: 9 Cal. App. 4th 70: 11 Cal. Rptr. 2d 454, 1992; Rashtian v. BRAC-BH: 9 Cal. App. 4th 1847: 12 Cal. Rptr. 2d 411, 1992; Romero v. Dermendzhayan: 10 Cal. App. 4th 802: 12 Cal. Rptr. 2d 819, 1992; Taing v. Johnson Scaffolding Co.: 9 Cal. App. 4th 579: 11 Cal. Rptr. 2d 820, 1992; DaFonte v. Up-Right, Inc.: 2 Cal. App. 4th 1169: 282 Cal. Rptr. 739, 1991; Gilman v. Beverly California Corp.: 231 Cal. App. 3d 121: 283 Cal. Rptr. 17, 1991; Mills v. MMM Carpets: 1 Cal. App. 4th 83: 1 Cal. Rptr. 2d 813, 1991; Weidenfeller v. Star & Garter: 1 Cal. App. 4th 1: 2 Cal. Rptr. 2d 14, 1991; Beeman v. Burling: 216 Cal. App. 3d 1586: 265 Cal. Rptr. 719, 1990; Christofferson v. Michelin Tire Corp.: 223 Cal. App. 3d 1444: 273 Cal. Rptr. 356, 1990; Fortman v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Am.: 221 Cal. App. 3d 1394: 271 Cal. Rptr. 117, 1990; Moore v. Lera Dev.: 225 Cal. App. 3d 1040A, 1990; Moore v. Lera Dev.: 224 Cal. App. 3d 1594, 1990; County of Los Angeles v. Reyes Guerrero: 209 Cal. App. 3d 1149: 257 Cal. Rptr. 787, 1989; Holland v. Thacher: 199 Cal. App. 3d 924: 245 Cal. Rptr. 247, 1988; Lamberton v. Rhodes-Jamieson: 199 Cal. App. 3d 748: 245 Cal. Rptr. 162, 1988; Evangelatos v. Superior Ct. of Los Angeles County: 198 Cal. App. 3d 320: 234 Cal. Rptr. 344, 1987; Green v. Franklin: 190 Cal. App. 3d 93: 235 Cal. Rptr. 312, 1987; Tulco, Inc. v. Narmco Materials: 203 Cal. App. 3d 914, 236 Cal. Rptr. 224, 1987; Brown v. Superior Ct. of San Francisco: 192 Cal. App, 3d 150: 227 Cal. Rptr. 768, 1986; Gard v. Raymark Indus.: 185 Cal. App. 3d 583: 229 Cal. Rptr. 861, 1986; Russell v. Superior Ct. of Alameda County: 185 Cal. App. 3d 810: 230 Cal. Rptr. 102, 1986; Owens Corning v. Bauman: 125 Md. App. 454: 726 A.2d 745, 1999; Lippard v. Houdaille: 715 S.W.2d 491, 1986; Owens-Illinois, Inc. v. United Ins. Co.: 138 N.J. 437: 650 A.2d 974, 1994; Fischer v. Johns-Manville Corp.: 103 N.J. 643: 512 A.2d 466, 1986; Mazzagatti v. Everingham: 512 Pa. 266, 516 A.2d 672, 1986; Stephens v. Henderson: 741 P.2d 952, 1987
Code Sections Affected
Amended Cal. Civ. Code sections 1431, et seq.
For Author
Richard Simpson, California Taxpayers' Association; Donnetta Spink, President, California State Parent-Teacher Association; Elwin E. (Ted) Cooke, President, California Police Chiefs Association
Against Author
Harry M. Snyder, Regional Director, California Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
Rebuttal Against Author
Kirk West, President, California Chamber of Commerce; Pat Russell, President, League of California Cities President, Los Angeles City Council; Leslie Brown, President, County Supervisors Association of California Supervisor, Kings County
Recommended Citation
Multiple Defendants Tort Damage Liability. California Proposition 51 (1986).
https://repository.uclawsf.edu/ca_ballot_props/956