27-1-308. Collateral source reductions in actions arising from bodily injury or death -- subrogation rights. - Montana Statutes

     27-1-308. Collateral source reductions in actions arising from bodily injury or death -- subrogation rights. (1) In an action arising from bodily injury or death when the total award against all defendants is in excess of $50,000 and the plaintiff will be fully compensated for the plaintiff's damages, exclusive of court costs and attorney fees, a plaintiff's recovery must be reduced by any amount paid or payable from a collateral source that does not have a subrogation right.
     (2) Before an insurance policy payment is used to reduce an award under subsection (1), the following amounts must be deducted from the amount of the insurance policy payment:
     (a) the amount the plaintiff paid for the 5 years prior to the date of injury;
     (b) the amount the plaintiff paid from the date of injury to the date of judgment; and
     (c) the present value of the amount the plaintiff is obligated to pay to keep the policy in force for the period for which any reduction of an award is made pursuant to subsection (3).
     (3) The jury shall determine its award without consideration of any collateral sources. After the jury determines its award, reduction of the award must be made by the trial judge at a hearing and upon a separate submission of evidence relevant to the existence and amount of collateral sources. Evidence is admissible at the hearing to show that the plaintiff has been or may be reimbursed from a collateral source that does not have a subrogation right. If the trial judge finds that, at the time of hearing, it is not reasonably determinable whether or in what amount a benefit from a collateral source will be payable, the judge shall:
     (a) order any person against whom an award was rendered and who claims a deduction under this section to make a deposit into court of the disputed amount, at interest; and
     (b) reduce the award by the amount deposited. The amount deposited and any interest on that amount are subject to the further order of the court, pursuant to the requirements of this section.
     (4) Except for subrogation rights specifically granted by state or federal law, there is no right to subrogation for any amount paid or payable to a plaintiff from a collateral source if an award is reduced by that amount under subsection (1).

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 628, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 564, Ch. 56, L. 2009.