ORS 31.605
Special questions to trier of fact

  • jury not to be informed of settlement

(1)

When requested by any party the trier of fact shall answer special questions indicating:

(a)

The amount of damages to which a party seeking recovery would be entitled, assuming that party not to be at fault.

(b)

The degree of fault of each person specified in ORS 31.600 (Contributory negligence not bar to recovery) (2). The degree of each person’s fault so determined shall be expressed as a percentage of the total fault attributable to all persons considered by the trier of fact pursuant to ORS 31.600 (Contributory negligence not bar to recovery).

(2)

A jury shall be informed of the legal effect of its answer to the questions listed in subsection (1) of this section.

(3)

The jury shall not be informed of any settlement made by the claimant for damages arising out of the injury or death that is the subject of the action.

(4)

For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the court may order that two or more persons be considered a single person for the purpose of determining the degree of fault of the persons specified in ORS 31.600 (Contributory negligence not bar to recovery) (2). [Formerly 18.480]

Source: Section 31.605 — Special questions to trier of fact; jury not to be informed of settlement, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors031.­html.

Notes of Decisions

For causes of action accruing prior to effective date of 1995 amendments, only comparative fault of parties appearing in action may be considered. Brown v. Washington County, 163 Or App 362, 987 P2d 1254 (1999), Sup Ct review denied

Intentional misconduct is not “fault” subject to apportionment between defendants or between plaintiff and defendant. Shin v. Sunriver Preparatory School, Inc., 199 Or App 352, 111 P3d 762 (2005), Sup Ct review denied

When read with ORS 31.600 and 31.610, this section sets forth comprehensive system for allocating fault between parties and distributing liability for damages severally in accordance with that allocation. Comparative fault system eliminates need for common-law indemnity claim. Eclectic Investment, LLC v. Patterson, 357 Or 25, 346 P3d 468 (2015)

Where two defendants are at fault, and jury has assessed fault of each defendant separately, trial court may not then combine defendants’ allocated fault in judgment because this section allows court to combine defendants to be treated as single person only before jury allocates fault in special verdict. Wingett v. Silbernagel, 279 Or App 245, 379 P3d 570 (2016), Sup Ct review denied

Law Review Citations

69 OLR 147 (1990)

31.150
Special motion to strike
31.152
Time for filing special motion to strike
31.155
Exempt actions
31.180
Certain felonious conduct of plaintiff complete defense in tort actions
31.200
Liability of radio or television station personnel for defamation
31.205
Damages recoverable for defamation by radio, television, motion pictures, newspaper or printed periodical
31.210
When general damages allowed
31.215
Publication of correction or retraction upon demand
31.220
Effect of publication of correction or retraction prior to demand
31.225
Publisher’s defenses and privileges not affected
31.230
Wrongful use of civil proceeding
31.250
Mandatory dispute resolution for certain actions against health practitioners and health care facilities
31.260
Definitions for ORS 31.260 to 31.278
31.262
Notice of adverse health care incident
31.264
Discussion of adverse health care incident
31.266
Discussion communications
31.268
Mediation
31.270
Payment and resolution
31.272
Statute of limitations
31.274
Patient representatives
31.276
Duties of Oregon Patient Safety Commission
31.278
Use of information relating to notice of adverse health care incident
31.280
Task Force on Resolution of Adverse Health Care Incidents
31.300
Pleading requirements for actions against design professionals
31.350
Pleading requirements for actions against real estate licensees
31.360
Proof required for claim of economic damages in action arising from injury caused by dog
31.370
Presumption of absence of negligence if defendant conducts criminal records check through Department of State Police
31.550
“Advance payment” defined
31.555
Effect of advance payment
31.560
Advance payment for death or personal injury not admission of liability
31.565
Advance payment for property damage not admission of liability
31.580
Effect of collateral benefits
31.600
Contributory negligence not bar to recovery
31.605
Special questions to trier of fact
31.610
Liability of defendants several only
31.615
Setoff of damages not allowed
31.620
Doctrines of last clear chance and implied assumption of risk abolished
31.700
Right to include medical expenses paid by parent or conservator in action to recover for damages to child
31.705
Economic and noneconomic damages separately set forth in verdict
31.710
Limitation on award for noneconomic damages in claim for wrongful death
31.715
Limitation on recovery of noneconomic damages arising out of operation of motor vehicle
31.725
Pleading punitive damages
31.730
Standards for award of punitive damages
31.735
Distribution of punitive damages
31.740
When award of punitive damages against health practitioner prohibited
31.760
Evidence of nonuse of safety belt or harness to mitigate damages
31.770
Inadmissibility of calculation of future earning potential based on race or ethnicity
31.800
Right of contribution among joint tortfeasors
31.805
Basis for proportional shares of tortfeasors
31.810
Enforcement of right of contribution
31.815
Covenant not to sue
31.820
Severability
31.825
Assignment of cause of action against insurer
31.980
Action for alienation of affections abolished
31.982
Action for criminal conversation abolished
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