Great West Casualty Co. v. Fletcher

MARTIN (Harry C.), Judge.

Under full faith and credit, our courts are bound by the Tennessee judgment finding plaintiff and defendant jointly and severally liable. U.S. Const. art. IV, § 1. Moreover, as a general rule, the right of one tort-feasor to obtain contribution from another tort-feasor is a substantive right and hence is governed by the law of the place of the tort. See 18 Am. Jur. 2d Contribution § 44 (1965). The choice of law rule of North Carolina adheres to this general principle. See Tatham v. Hoke, 469 F. Supp. 914 (W.D.N.C. 1979). Thus the law of Tennessee governs the…