Bill > H2135

This bill proposes changes to how court judgments, compromises, or settlements are handled, particularly concerning the division of expenses and the determination of damages. Specifically, it amends existing laws to ensure that the costs of an attorney's fees and expenses incurred in recovering money from a responsible party (a "tortfeasor") are shared proportionally between a health maintenance organization or similar service corporation and the injured person, based on the amounts each receives from the recovery. If the total money recovered is less than the injured person's full damages, a court can reduce the amount owed to the insurer after a hearing. The bill also allows plaintiffs in civil cases in the superior court to request a specific monetary amount for damages at trial. Furthermore, it establishes a process for fairly dividing settlement or judgment funds when an injured person who has received benefits under chapter 152 (likely related to workers' compensation) and the insurer disagree on the distribution, with provisions for court intervention and the possibility for the injured person to withdraw consent to a settlement if dissatisfied with the apportionment.