House Bill No. introduced by A. Nicastro aims to revise and clarify the law regarding apportionment in negligence cases. The bill amends Section 27-1-703 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to allow a party to argue that a nonparty is the sole cause of the claimant's injuries without the need to seek apportionment. Additionally, the bill specifies that a defendant may assert that the claimant's damages were caused by a person with whom the claimant has settled or released from liability, and it introduces new provisions for how fault is apportioned on a verdict form.

Key amendments include the insertion of language that allows for the presentation of evidence and arguments regarding a nonparty's status as the sole cause of injuries, as well as the requirement for defendants to notify settled or released persons if they allege fault. The bill also clarifies that apportionment of fault on a verdict form is applicable and outlines the responsibilities of defendants in proving the negligence of released or settled persons. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline the process of determining liability and contribution among parties in negligence cases.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 27-1-703
HB0303_1(1): 27-1-703
HB0303_1(2): 27-1-703
HB0303_1(3): 27-1-703
HB0303_1(4): 27-1-703
HB0303_1(5): 27-1-703
HB0303_1(6): 27-1-703
HB0303_1: 27-1-703